Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria is determined not to let the Presidency slip out of Mt. Kenya.
He is thus all out to heighten the battle to control Mt Kenya votes even as the current Kingpin President Uhuru Kenyatta has reiterated that he is not keen on remaining in politics post 2022.
Kuria has propped up a party and the Registrar of political Parties Ann Nderitu notified the advocates of Transformational National Alliance Party (TNAP) that the name had been reserved ahead of formal registration.
“Your application has been considered under section 6 of the Political Parties Act, 2011. An application for reservation of name shall be for a period of not more than 90 days,” wrote Ms Nderitu in a letter dated April 24.
The new party has adopted an eagle as its symbol instead of a dove like the defunct TNA and it has “Kazi na Pesa” as its slogan.
It would seem he has ditched the idea of joining the Democratic Party, once led by former president Mwai Kibaki. This was not to be as it is said he received a cold shoulder from the party officials.
The new party revives the memories of The National Alliance Party (TNA) which was formed by President Kenyatta ahead of 2013 elections. The party went on to win the general elections in 2013 after it joined hands with URP of deputy President William Ruto.
The formation of TNAP is an addition to the growing list of political parties that are seeking to reap big in the event that President Kenyatta ends his political career.
It joins Martha Karua’s Narc Kenya, cabinet secretary Peter Munya’s Party of National Unity (PNU) and the Democratic Party, which was founded by former President Mwai Kibaki in 1991, which have dominated the politics of the region in the recent past. CS Mwangi Kiunjuri’s Grand National Union party and Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua’s Maendeleo Chap Chap also won some seats in the region.
Mr Kuria’s new outfit is aimed at accommodating the leaders in Mt Kenya region who feel orphaned by dissolution of The National Alliance Party which was dissolved alongside 11 other political parties to give way to Jubilee party.
“We won’t follow the route of Mwai Kibaki, Charles Njonjo and (the late) GG Kariuki who gave up the presidency in 1978 with no plan. We are however not blindsided by raw hate and emotion like Kieleweke,” he said.
Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungw’a has however rubbished Kuria’s move.
“Anyone thinking of taking us back to politics of yesteryears that was ethnic based or based on regional ethnic political parties is living in the past. President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto had reason to amalgamate all the 14 political parties to form a national party that would transform the nature and conduct of our national politics,” he said.