BY ERIC WAINAINA

Kiambu politicians are desperately scrambling for nomination tickets in the newly launched  The National Alliance party ahead of the next General Election in the hope it will guarantee then a win.

Before the launch of the party associated with Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, politicians eyeing seats for governor, senator, MP and county representatives were selling their manifestos to the electorates under other party banners.

Mwaura Ngarari, Juja MP William Kabogo, former Limuru MP  George Nyanja and James Nyoro, a former Director of Rockefeller Foundation who have declared for governorship are all jostling for TNA nominations.

The same is happening with the women representatives, parliamentary aspirants and County assembly aspirants, an indication of Kenyatta’s dominance Kiambu politics.

The politicians want to take photos with Mr Kenyatta, the only presidential aspirant from the county, for popularity. Analysts say anyone who will not be with Kenyatta’s party will lose.

Nyanja ditched Democratic Party of Kenya which had given him direct ticket while Kabogo has partially left Narc Kenya, saying electorates would not vote for him if he is not under Kenyatta’s party.

In Ruiru, for instance, aspirants Geoffrey Kaara, Peter Kin’gara, Gathii Irungu, John Njihia and Samuel Muli are fighting to open an office each.

In Kiambaa, Raymond Kuria, Julius Mwangi and Paul Koinange are battling for the tickets and this has seen Koinange and Kuria open two offices in Muchatha and Banana respectively.

The same has been happening in Gatundu North and Gatundu south where some fear that only the moneyed will get nominations.

Last month, Mr Kabogo and  Nyanja confronted each other during the opening of an office at Kamiti in Ruiru, abruptly ending the function.

Causing disharmony

Ngarari said having many TNA offices will confuse electorates, saying it will cause disharmony among TNA members.

“There should just be one office manned by the head office which will in turn have office downwards to the sub-location level. If I open my office, I will not let any other aspirant came because it’s my office,” Ngarari said.

But Nyanja urges that they should be allowed to open as many offices as possible, saying it enhances the popularity of the party in the grassroots as well as ensure many delegates are recruited.

He even turned a DP office he had started with his resources at Kirigiti to a TNA office. He pays the office’s monthly rent and also pays his staff salaries fromthis office.

Political survival

“I am ready to face the nominations for the TNA ticket. I better start it all over again than continue with a path that would not take me to where I want,” Mr Nyanja said.

Julius Chege and  Kigo Njenga who are parliamentary aspirants for Gatundu North and Gatundu South constituencies respectively also say it is healthy having personal offices.

“Let everybody have an office. The members we are recruiting do not belong to us but to the party and I do not see any problem with that,”  Chege said.

Reverend Ezbon Ngaruiya, the co-ordinator of the Anglican Church Mens’ Association, Mount Kenya South Diocese, says with the political atmosphere in Kiambu, no aspirant will get votes if he is not in TNA.

“If one gets a TNA ticket, he is already 80 per cent elected and that’s why our politicians are desperate to get the tickets since they are motivated by their desire for political survival,” he said.

Rev Ngaruiya said aspirants have abandoned their campaigns to focus on the TNA tickets which if one fails to secure, it will be the same as losing in the forthcoming elections.

David Mumita, a youth leader, said currently TNA is the only party from Kiambu and its flag bearer Mr Kenyatta also comes from the region so the situation was not a surprise.

“The situation here is that if you are not with Mr Kenyatta’s party who is the preferred presidential candidate, you will not get votes from the people and that’s why you find the aspirants desperate to win the nominations,”  Mumita said.