We will support Uhuru’s re-election bid, says Lonyangapuo
West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo (left) and former Cabinet minister Samuel Poghisio in Kacheliba on February 12, 2017. The leaders said Kanu will support President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election bid in the August elections. PHOTO | OSCAR KAKAI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Senator Lonyangapuo accused Mr Salat of being a lone ranger out to divide the party.
He said he had talked with the party chairman Gideon Moi [who] agreed to support the Head of State.
Prof Lonyangapuo, however, said that the party will filed candidates for the other seats.
Kanu leaders in West Pokot County have thrown their weight behind President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election bid in the August elections as uncertainty persists about the direction the party will take ahead of the polls.
The new declaration of political support for President Kenyatta is expected to lead to further confusion within the independence party, given that some Kanu officials, led by secretary-general Nick Salat, have declared their support for the new opposition coalition Nasa.
Speaking in Kacheliba on Sunday during a rally to popularise their party, West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo and former Cabinet minister Samuel Poghisio said they will fully support the President in the next elections.
Senator Lonyangapuo accused Mr Salat of being a lone ranger out to divide the party.
AGAINST PARTY WISHES
“He is supporting Nasa as an individual and not as a party,” Prof Lonyangapuo said, adding that Mr Salat is going against the party’s wishes.
“Last year he joined the Cord coalition’s demonstrations to eject IEBC commissioners without the consent of the party.
“Salat is on the wrong side as he has not consulted party members on Kanu joining Nasa,” said the senator.
Prof Lonyangapuo said he had talked with party chairman Gideon Moi, who agreed to support the Head of State.
“I have talked with the President and (we) have agreed to support him,” he said.
FILED OTHER CANDIDATES
Prof Lonyangapuo, however, said the party will field its own candidates for the other seats.
“We want Kanu to win most senatorial, governor, parliamentary and civic seats but at the top we shall support the President,” he said.
Mr Poghisio, who is eyeing the West Pokot senatorial seat, reiterated that the independence party entered an agreement with the ruling Jubilee coalition after the last elections and that the memorandum of understanding is still intact.
“Kanu is in the Jubilee coalition. We respect Uhuru Kenyatta. We support a party [that has] the same manifesto with ours .We are not enemies of Jubilee because the agreement is still there,” he said.
Two weeks ago, top party leaders gave Mr Moi 14 days to decide on whom the party will back in the coming elections.
That period elapses this week.
