Will Saitoti be the sole beneficiary in Central?

By WAINAINA NDUNG’U

Internal Security Minister George Saitoti is pushing his presidential bid hoping to capitalise on re-alignments expected in central Kenya.

Most central Kenya leaders believe Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential bid appears unlikely with the International Criminal Court (ICC) case hanging over his head like the proverbial Sword of Damocles.

Cabinet minister George Saitoti is counting on support from Central Provice. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

But the panic button pressed by the Gema meeting in Limuru last weekend calling for two million signatures to petition ICC to delay the case until after election, is seen as one of the stark pointers that Uhuru’s presidential bid may flop.

Taking offense

Prof Saitoti, who likes to market himself as a Maasai, recently appears not to take offence being clustered as a central Kenya leader.

He keeps off from the prayer rallies organised for Uhuru and other ICC suspects, but an associate says this is because he is expected to remain neutral as chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee on the ICC prosecutions.

That might explain why the minister did not attend the Gema meeting at Jumuia Conference Centre in Limuru, whichwas known would degenerate into an Uhuru show.

The ICC prosecutions are also an emotive issue in central Kenya and any leader seen as seeking to benefit from the DPM’s tribulations is likely to be a hard sell. That would explain why all presidential aspirants from the region – Martha Karua (Narc-Kenya), Paul Muite (Safina) and Assistant Minister Peter Kenneth – haved steered clear of the issue.

Saitoti has been touring the region marketing himself as a strong candidate, who is also sympathetic to the crisis that has bedevilled the area’s most popular political son.

Last Thursday, PNU presented its registration data to the Registrar of Political Parties showing it had opened branches in 30 of 47 counties, and registered enough members in complaince with the Political Parties Act.

Saitoti has recently been to Nyandarua, Laikipia, Embu and Murang’a for official gGovernment business and also popularising PNU.

This weekend, he is expected to open PNU offices in Meru town, the home turf of his former ally Energy Minister, Kiraitu Murungi, who has since joined the Alliance Party of Kenya.

Saitoti has used those occasions to seek support for his presidential bid. Saitoti was accompanied by former Cabinet minister Maina Kamanda when he opened PNU offices in Embu.

The former minister also accompanied Saitoti during his tour of Murang’a in February for a church service. Maragwa MP Elias Mbau hosted them.

Youthful Nairobi councillors allied to Kamanda were also present. In an interview, the former Starehe MP, who is the PNU organising secretary, said Saitoti’s performance in the next elections would surprise many.

"We realise we eventually need to work with all like-minded individuals. Our strategy is that a possibly chaotic second round presidential election must be avoided," says Kamanda.

Acting Nyeri PNU chairman Kiama Mbaka said during PNU recruitment they realised Saitoti is one of the most popular, but an underrated presidential aspirant.

Stiff contest

"People should know that Kenyans are not about to trust a 40 or 50-year-old politician with the presidency. It has never happened in Kenya. It is unlikely to happen. Our evaluations are that Saitoti’s stiffest competitors will be Raila Odinga, Karua, and Kalonzo Musyoka," said Mbaka.

Other leaders allied to PNU believe Saitoti’s biggest selling point is his dual heritage. The heritage gives him a political foothold in the Rift Valley, with a deep connection to Nairobi and central Kenya.

A close political supporter of Saitoti also points to his deep pockets and impeccable connections in the rich club as a plus that many of his competitors can only envy.

One central Kenya supporter of the minister says he retains and can still count on the his impeccable connections with former members of the Central Province Development Support Group – the Kanu elite – that was formed around 1997 to spearhead Saitoti’s expected succession of President Moi in 2002.

That campaign floundered and the group split after President Moi unexpectedly anointed Uhuru as his successor only a year to the General Election.

But the lobby was dealt a blow following a poor showing of its candidates in 1997 election, when none was elected MP in central Kenya.

A key Saitoti ally says his financial muscle is largely intact and will bank roll his 2012 campaigns.

Some of the former lobby members are known to have publicly supported other presidential aspirants, including PM Raila Odinga, but their hearts are said to really lie with Saitoti.