By Standard Team
Differences over the proposed constitution have now
exposed the political machinations and behind-the-scenes lobbying that
influenced some of the most controversial party nominations for the 2002
General Election.
Only hours after Education minister George Saitoti
bitterly spoke of how he was edged out of the presidential race by people
in the Orange campaign, Roads minister Raila Odinga told of how he had "helped" his now archrival, Raphael Tuju, to become the MP for
Rarieda "even after he lost in the party nominations".
This "revelation" is bound to intensify the
hostilities between Raila and Tuju as they battle for the Nyanza vote in
the referendum and ultimate political supremacy in the region.
Tuju, who is also the Information minister, recently
launched a political party, the Peoples Progressive Party, which he said
would champion development in the region.
But addressing a No campaign rally in Tuju’s
constituency on Sunday, Raila challenged the minister to seek a fresh
mandate from his constituents.
Then he went on to tell Rarieda residents how he had
propelled Tuju to Parliament.
Raila said Tuju had lost to Mr Moses Owiti alias Malo
Malo.
"Tuju lost dismally to Owiti and I had to come down
and convince the people to elect him. Does he have any mantle of winning
any seat?," said Raila.
But stung by the remarks, Tuju yesterday hit back: "I know so much about how I got that nomination certificate that I
appeal to him (Raila) not to take me down that path. If I choose to go
down that road I will embarrass him so completely, and not just himself,
even members of his family."
Without elaborating, Tuju said people had been forced to
pay bribes.
"This is admitting to corruption in the political
process, which is why some of us are prepared to die fighting for
political space in Nyanza," he added.
"This is clearly a case of someone trying to open a
very dirty can of worms. I want to read what you publish then I’ll call
a Press conference to put this matter on the table and I can promise you
it doesn’t look very nice," he told The Standard.
This is the first time both politicians have spoken
about the controversial Narc nominations for Rarieda. In the confusion
that marked the nominations, both Tuju and Owiti produced Narc nomination
papers, but the Electoral Commission of Kenya rejected Owiti’s.
An outraged Owiti then defected to the Social Democratic
Party, but eventually lost to Tuju in the elections, managing only 5,427
votes to the latter’s 15,949.
Tuju and his supporters have always maintained he won
the nominations — until yesterday when he hinted that there was"much more to the issue than meets the eye".
He added: "Do you know why some of us have formed
political parties?"
Raila had told a crowd at Ndori that Tuju was a "political novice and cannot win any election".
"If he is a man enough, let him resign and face the
by-election now that he has defected to People’s Progressive Party,
which he launched recently. He would not succeed where many have
failed," he said.
Environment minister Kalonzo Musyoka, Kanu Secretary-
General William Ruto and former vice-president Musalia Mudavadi said Tuju
had dug his "political grave" by cutting links with Raila.
And Sports minister Ochillo Ayacko said the party had
already picked two "shadow MPs" to replace the minister.
Also letting the 2002 elections skeletons out of the
closet was Saitoti, who on Sunday accused politicians in the Orange camp
of ganging up with then President Moi to rig him out of the race for the
top job.
Saitoti said they had earlier sealed a deal at State
House on the eve of the infamous Kanu elections at Kasarani.
"I braved the Kasarani storm after my name was
removed from the list by the same (people) who now want to overthrow
Kibaki’s Government," he said.
Saitoti, who decamped to the Rainbow team soon after the
controversial Kanu conference where Uhuru Kenyatta was endorsed as
presidential candidate, added: "They further denied me a microphone.
There was also supposed to be chaos to intimidate my supporters, but I
became defiant and told them openly that their interests were not superior
than those of the entire nation."
Saitoti, who is the Kajiado North MP, was speaking
during a meet-the-people tour of Ngong’, Kiserian and Ongata Rongai
trading centres in his constituency.
The minister said that soon after the "unforgettable" Kasarani incident, the group (Orange team) realised that they too had suffered
the same fate as Moi was pushing for Uhuru for president.
"Even as we came together after decamping from Kanu
and ganging up against Uhuru for convenience purposes, I knew my
colleagues were not genuine, they can plan anything for the sake of
getting power," he said
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