Salat defends remarks at NASA meeting, says Moi backs his stand

Intrigues within KANU have taken a new twist after Secretary General Nick Salat attended the Bomas meeting on Wednesday and announced that KANU is part of the new opposition alliance – a position that has prompted mixed reactions from various stakeholders within the independence party.

Speaking to Citizen Digital on phone, Salat was quick to rubbish allegations that party chairman Gideon Moi had distanced himself from the NASA partnership, saying the letter making rounds on social media was fake. He pointed out that the document did not have the party letterhead or the chairman’s signature.

Salat went on to state that his presence at the Opposition Unity meeting was in agreement with the party chairman Senator Moi.

He further dismissed claims by West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo and nominated Senator Zipporah Kittony, saying that they are just senators and they cannot speak on behalf of the party. He went on to accuse two of flouting the party rules by talking to the media about party matters, instead of handling them internally.

Salat advised KANU members who are opposed to his presence at the NASA meeting to submit their complaints to the party in writing as per their constitution.

Salat emphasized that as SG he is mandated to explore the best options for best for party ahead of 2017.

At the same time, KANU officials in Kericho County have appealed to the party chairman Gideon Moi to convene a National Delegates’ Conference to chart the way forward on party matters.

Led by the county KANU chairman William Ketienya, the officials say that Saalat’s sentiments at the Bomas of Kenya during should only be ratified by the party’s delegates.

According to Ketienya, it is confusing to the party supporters when officials issue contradicting statements concerning the party’s position.

While giving his address at Bomas of Kenya, Salat said, among other things, that Kenya does not belong to a select few terming the notion of Jubilee ruling up to 2022 as nonsense.

Salat added that the country has suffered enough under the Jubilee administration and there is a need to change the leadership.