Kenya Election Watch: Weekly Updates

Week of July 26 – August 2, 2002

Summary: Welcome to this edition of Kenya Election Watch’s Weekly Updates! Here, we provide our readers with summaries of news stories covering the election, constitutional reform, and related issues culled from Kenya’s two major daily newspapers: The Daily Nation; and The East African Standard. Each month, we pick out the major events from these weekly updates and post them on the main Kenya Election Watch page, along with one or two analysis pieces. The “week” period normally covers Fridays to Thursdays. We also provide a brief summary of the major trend or event of the week. Mary Wabwire and Cathy Majtenyi compiled this week’s update. For more information or comments, contact Kenya Election Watch editor Cathy Majtenyi at: cathymaj@hotmail.com 

You may notice that the dates of this update are one day longer than the others. We have decided to offer you coverage from Saturdays to Fridays, and post this on the website on Mondays.

The big issue this week is whether or not President Moi is right in blatantly naming his favoured candidate to succeed him. By publicly and unequivocally stating that he wishes to see Local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta run as the KANU presidential candidate has raised a storm of protest, especially from Western Kenya, where Minister of Energy Raila Odinga hails from and where his former NDP was formed and enjoyed so much support. In editorials and speeches across the country, MPs and common voters alike are calling President Moi and his “Kenyatta-for-president” colleagues to task over their apparent disregard for democratic measures in the KA NU constitution outlinin g how KANU goes about selecting a presidential candidate.

 

Acronyms

All throughout the chronology and updates are sprinkled acronyms referring to various committees, commissions, political movements, etc. Here, we spell out these acronyms and provide some brief background information.

CKRC = Constitution of Kenya Review Commission. Chaired by Prof. Yash Pal Ghai, the 27-member group collects the views of a wide cross-section of Kenyan groups and individuals. The commission is supposed to present Kenyans with a new constitution on October 4.

 PSCCR = Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review. Chaired by Raila Odinga, Minister of Energy, the committee monitors the work of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC).

KANU = Kenya African National Union, the party that has ruled Kenya since independence. Daniel arap Moi is the president of Kenya.

NAC = National Alliance for Change. This is a grouping of the Democratic Party, FORD-Kenya, National Party of Kenya (NPK), FORD-Asili, the unregistered Saba Saba Asili, SPARK, and several advocacy groups. The group is striving to field one presidential candidate.

KPC = Kenya People's Coalition. This is a grouping of FORD-People, Safina, the Labour Party of Kenya, and the National Convention Executive Council (NCEC).

MPs = Members of Parliament. Currently, the House contains a total of 222 MPs.

Events

The Daily Nation, July 26 – Parliament begins debate on The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, introduced by Oloo Aringo, MP for Alego Usonga. The Aringo Bill proposes that Parliament be dissolved on November 30 every five years and have its first sitting on the first Tu esday of February after a general election. Each session within the five-year term of Parliament would end and start on the same dates, the bill proposes. And if the president’s office fall vacant, the speaker of the National Assembly – rather than the vice president – would be the pro tem president until he calls presidential elections, according to the bill. Aringo explains that the bill’s aim is to change the procedures for a political transition in the event of a vote of non-confidence in a president. “Its net effect will be to abolish the remaining powers which allow the president to summon, prorogue, and dissolve Parliament at his whim and discretion,” Aringo is quoted as saying. Julius Sunkuli, Minister of State in the Office of the President, is the first to shoot down the bill, saying that the House should wait for the CKRC to complete its work before the bill is debated.

The Daily Nation, July 26 – President Moi does not have the final say on KANU’s presidential candidate, says KANU secretary-general Raila Odinga. About the Kenyatta-for-president campaign, Odinga says KANU’s nominee will be chosen by secret ballot and it is not upon the president to determine whether or not Kenyatta should be KANU’s candidate. Odinga adds: “He [Moi] has only one vote, which may not be useful to Mr. Kenyatta. People are forgetting that this is a long-distance race and the favourite might not cross the line first.”

The Daily Nation, July 26 – Still on the succession debate, KANU is warned that it will lose the election if dumps Vice President George Saitoti as its presidential candidate, says Assistant Minister of Education Mathew Adams Karauri. Karauri backs the VP as seven colleagues from Eastern Province and all Central Provin ce KANU branch chairmen throws weight behind Local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta. Karauri accuses MPs of “joking around with the succession issue” by imposing their personal views on voters. On Wednesday, seven MPs from North Eastern Province declared their support for Kenyatta for presidency in the coming elections. In Central Province, KANU leaders resolved to sell Kenyatta’s presidential bid in Democratic Party of Kenya leader Mwai Kibaki’s home turf.

The Standard, July 26 – U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Johnnie Carson and Attorney-General Amos Wako are among prominent personalities who took the opportunity at the late Oki Ooko Ombaka’s funeral to call for elections to be held under a new constitution and on time. Ombaka was the CKRC’s vice-chairman until his recent passing.

The Standard, July 26 – Cabinet Minister Joseph Kamotho warns his party KANU that it risks losing the forthcoming general election if it fronts an unpopular candidate for the presidency. He adds that political parties are part of the democratic system, and that nomination of candidates from these parties must be held in a free, transparent, and democratic manner. He says KANU’s National Delegates Congress (NDC) must be allowed to nominate the presidential candidate freely. Kamotho was the party&r squo;s Secretary General until it’s March 18 merger with the National Development Party (NDP).

The Standard, July 26 – Eleven KANU leaders and 39 councillors from Vihiga District declare their support for Cabinet Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who they claim is suitable to be KANU’s presidential candidate. FORD-Kenya National Chairman Kijana Wamalwa is strong presidential material in NAC, says the Kwanza MP Dr. Noah Wekesa.

The Daily Nation, July 26 – Today’s editorial argues that MP Oloo Aringo’s Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill should be presented to the CKRC rather than be presented in the House as a bill. It notes that both KANU and the Opposition “are keen to bypass the Review Commission to push for a series o f key constitutional ame ndments ahead of the General Election in December,” says the editorial. “If it is determined that there is a need for what are popularly called “minimal” amendments ahead of the elections, it is only fair that they be routed through the Ghai Commission.”

The Daily Nation, July 27 – Vice-President George Saitoti and KANU Vice-Chairmen and Cabinet Ministers Musalia Mudavadi, Noah Ngala, and Kalonzo Musyoka are challenged to declare whether or not they are interested in the presidency. This follows a wave of support for Local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta as president Moi’s successor.  Assistant Minister Wycliffe Osundwa among others throws the salvo to the ministers, who he sa id are losing their supp orters to Kenyatta because of their silence.

The Daily Nation, July 27 – In a commentary appearing today, opinion editor David Makali writes that the Kasarani constitution gives President Moi the power to assign duties to KANU’s four vice-chairmen. Whoever he chooses will carry the KANU ticket.  “In fact, President Moi has done nothing wrong” if he has assigned Uhuru Kenyatta “the most delicious of roles… Whining about Mr. Kenyatta not being sellable without alternativ es is pointless and cowa rdly. The more we hear about Mr. Kenyatta, the sexier it becomes,” he writes.  He wonders why Mama Ngina (the former first lady who Uhuru Kenyatta’s mother) who has maintained a respectable armour of silence is now breaking her silence: is it greed or naivety?  Makali urges her to give other Kenyan mothers a chance to give Kenyans a president!

The Daily Nation, July 27 – In another commentary appearing today, opinion editor Wycliffe Muga writes that in a presidential race against Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, Simeon Nyachae would be the most likely to carry the victory because of his “lone ranger” approach to presidential elections. From what h appened to FORD in the e arly 1990s, Muga argues that “a political organisation may appear to have strong roots, even power. But add some unexpected ingredient, and it could come tumbling like a house of cards.”

The Daily Nation, July 27 – In another commentary appearing today, Muthoni Wanyeki asks some tough questions about Uhuru Kenyatta’s credentials: What has he ever done to make us aware of them? What has he done to make us believe that he sees, identifies, and is engaged in trying to change any of the numerous prob lems facing us today? Wa nyeki wonders whether genetics dictate that political leaders’ children necessarily make effective political leaders!

The Standard, July 27 – In a commentary appearing today, opinion editor Joe Kadhi writes on the succession debate.  He notices that Kenyatta, who started in KANU, seems to have beaten his rivals hands down.  He also notes that NAC h as done nothing to make the public know the team it has selected.

Sunday Nation, July 28 – Cabinet Minister Musalia Mudavadi announces his intention to run for president on a KANU ticket. Mudavadi was widely seen as President Moi’s favoured candidate before the entrance of Uhuru Kenyatta. He now joins Kenyatta in his bid for presidency. Mudavadi stresses that the KANU Presidential Nomination Council should have the final say on who succeeds President Moi in KANU.

Sunday Nation, July 28 – Cabinet Minister Julius Sunkuli rules out minimum reforms to accommodate the election. He says a good constitution would only be drafted if the reforms were given the proper time required. “The constitution is not going to be for elections alone but many other things besides,” Sunkuli was quoted as saying. “I don’t understand why after agreeing that the constitution we are making is for the future, we are now saying we want to make a constitution for the coming elect ion.”

Sunday Nation, July 28 – CKRC head Prof. Yash Pal Ghai says the commission “is likely” to produce a draft constitution “in the next few weeks.” He says this at the burial of the late Ooki Ooko Ombaka, CKRC vice chairman.

Sunday Nation, July 28 – KANU Secretary General Raila Odinga launches his presidential nomination campaign bid in Mombasa today. KANU MP Ochillo Ayacko says President Moi should be neutral in the KANU nominations.

Sunday Nation, July 28 – Former MPs from North Eastern Province join the succession debate by asking all KANU presidential aspirants to declare their stand now before time runs out for them.  The MPs oppose the proposal by sitting MPs from the area who have declared Local Gov ernment Minister Uhuru K enyatta as the KANU presidential candidate. They say Kenyatta is the “least experienced” among the four KANU vice chairmen, and urged President Moi not to interfere with the KANU nomination process. The MPs are yet to tell Kenyans whom they support for the presidency.

Sunday Standard, July 28 – The raging succession debate takes an interesting turn when Trade and Industry Minister Nicholas Biwott affirms that he harbours presidential ambitions. He tells journalists that he is on record as having expressed an interest in the presidency.

Sunday Standard, July 28 – GEM MP Joe Donde insists that he will vie for the presidency under the National Party of Kenya (NAK) despite criticism that he should first be nominated by FORD-Kenya. Dagoretti MP Beth Mugo has said that NAK will not recognize him as a presidential candidate unless his party, FORD-Kenya, nominates him.

Sunday Nation, July 28 – Several Nandi and Keiyo leaders endorse Cabinet Minister Musalia Mudavadi as KANU’s presidential candidate. 

Sunday Standard, July 28 – Cabinet Minister Shariff Nassir, who is Minister of State in the Office of the President, urges KANU to share leadership positions among eight provinces to avoid jostling for top seats. “It is unfair for people to chase the presidential seat which is not yet vacant,” he says.

Sunday Nation, July 28 – NAC may have driven its profile higher a notch or two following its registration as a distinct political party called the National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK), but the old problem of coming up with a single presidential candidate is still unresolved, says an analysis piece appearing today. Th e NAK constitution does not clearly specify the actual modalities the NAK council will use to nominate their candidate.

Sunday Nation, July 28 – Today’s editorial tells Kenyans to let KANU have its debate.  For Kenyans to pick the best man or woman for the presidency, all options must remain open and all candidates (and parties) must have their day in the court of public attention, it says. KANU, being the party comprising the government, should be an example to other parties. In nominating it’s candidates, KANU is expected to follow the party’s constitut ion; in that way, democr acy will not only be done but seen to be done. Like other parties, KANU should nominate its candidate primarily on the basis of his or her suitability and the needs of this country.  This leader should be clean, efficient, strong, and very a clever but peaceful person.

Sunday Nation, July 28 – In today’s commentary, Nation columnist Philip Ochieng writes on why Local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, President Moi’s favoured candidate, cannot pass muster because he doesn’t fight for himself and is not trying to convey his vision of the country to the voter. Ochien g urges Kenyans to judge Kenyatta on his own merit, not on the basis of his tribe or his father [former President Jomo Kenyatta). He posses a tough question: Will Kenyatta prove to be an effective and benevolent president?  Kenyatta has also to tell Kenyans what he is going to do about the many insuperable problems such as the economic slump, rasping poverty, and widespread hunger.  

Sunday Nation, July 28 – In another commentary, Nation opinion writer Vitalis Musebe writes on how NAC is faced with serious internal conflicts that could very well split it much sooner than expected.  Respective supporters of DP leader Mwai Kibaki, FORD-Kenya’s Kijana Wamalwa, and National Pa rty of Kenya’s Charity Ngilu are engaged in intensive lobbying to get their person (or themselves) picked for the presidency.  This lobbying now threatens to tear the alliance apart.

Sunday Nation, July 28 – Tom Osanjo writes that various groupings are emerging within KANU whose express purpose is to counter the move by President Moi to have KANU vice-chairman Uhuru Kenyatta installed as the party’s presidential candidate. The groups comprise MPs mainly from Western Kenya.  The most vocal opposition to the Kenyatta-for-president project is from former National Development Party MPs, who would wish to see thei r former leader Raila Od inga chosen. Another group is backing  Musalia Mudavadi, the KANU vice-chairman, while a third group is throwing its weight behind Vice-President George Saitoti.

Sunday Standard, July 28 – The ruling party is headed for its most challenging test yet as top leaders take increasingly divergent positions on Uhuru Kenyatta’s proposed presidential candidature, reports Sunday Standard political analysts. Particularly significant are the reactions of Raila Odinga and Musalia Mud avadi, it says. Odinga i s quoted as saying that the Luo community – his ethnic group – will not play “second fiddle” in the political transition, while politicians from Mudavadi’s area have been holding consultations on what to do about “Project Uhuru.”

Sunday Nation, July 28 – A commentary by Nation writer Mutahi Ngunyi on the Moi succession states that President Moi is the problem, not Local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta who he is backing.  The strategy of having Kenyatta as President Moi’s successor reflects what President Moi has been doing for the past 24 years, that is, “dishing out positions of power to the most undeserving and the least qualified,” accor ding to the commentary. Moi’s presidency has been about survival, with some farmers heading banks, and choirmasters heading parastatals, writes Ngunyi.  He then poses an intriguing question: “Is President Moi a liability to KANU?”

The Daily Nation, July 29 – Cabinet ministers Raila Odinga and Katana Ngala join the battle for KANU’s presidential candidature. “I have been to different parts of the country and KANU members have asked me to stand for the presidency,” says Odinga. Ngala says he would not shy away from running for th e presidency if the ruli ng party nominates him. “I must consider myself one among the other candidates-in-waiting,” he says. This brings to four the number of aspirants seeking the party’s nomination. The others are Musalia Mudavadi and Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Daily Nation, July 29 – President Moi appears to have made his most forthright declaration yet that Local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta is his preferred choice as KANU’s presidential candidate. He says Kenyatta’s nomination was made during the March 18 merger between KANU and the National Developme nt Party. “I have seen that this young man is a person who can be guided,” says President Moi.

The Standard, July 29 – CKRC boss Prof. Yash Pal Ghai says a draft constitution will be ready by mid-September. He says that nearly 80 percent of the v9iews from Kenyans have been collated and analysed. Only Western Province is yet to be visited by the commission.

The Daily Nation, July 29 – National Alliance Party of Kenya leaders vow to support whomever among them is nominated to be the party’s flag-bearer.  “We have taken an oath of allegiance to support whoever is picked among the three of us for the presidential race. Any of us who goes again st this oath should be lynched,” says Charity Ngilu.

The Standard, July 29 – NAC welcomes Local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s bid for the presidency, says NAC coordinating chairman Noah Wekesa, explaining that the joint opposition would have a “walk over” Kenyatta.

The Daily Nation, July 30 – A retired Kenyan president will be given a fleet of cars, 34 employees, a travel allowance, a 12-bedroom mansion, medical coverage, and a state funeral, all at taxpayers’ cost as part of the retirement benefits being proposed under a new bill. Experts estimate that the retirement packa ge will cost Kenyans Sh5 0 million [US$65,000] in its first month alone. The proposed package is the most generous one in the East African region.

The Daily Nation, July 30 – Today’s editorial cautions that, although President Moi himself may deserve the proposed retirement package because he has led the country for a quarter of a century, others who follow him might not. In the future, a person may enter State House as a “Young Turk”; if he tak es power at age 35, he m ight retire 10 years later.  “He may then demand our provident support for another 45 years! Can we afford this?… How can a country forever pleading for “foreign aid” afford to indulge in such luxury an individual no longer in service?” says the editorial. The law should not be written with some people in mind and not others of the same kind. Once the present proposals are approved, they must apply to all future incumbents. 

The Daily Nation, July 30 – Cabinet Minister Raila Odinga kicks off his campaign to be KANU’s presidential candidate, with assurances to President Moi that Moi’s future is secure. He also made a pitch for “shared leadership” when President Moi retires. Kenya will need a team of leaders, not an i ndividual, who will take it through a smooth transition. The individual to lead them should have an impeccable track record, genuine commitment, and resolve, unstained by scandals in public office, Odinga says.

The Standard, July 30 – More than 400 KANU delegates from Western Province declare their support for Local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta as KANU’s presidential candidate. In a statement read by Butere MP Dr. Amukowa Anangwe in Eldoret, the delegates said they back Kenyatta unreservedly.

The Daily Nation, July 30 – Women in Busia tell a CKRC hearing that they want: wife inheritance outlawed, with offenders being jailed for two years; village courts set up to deal with domestic violence; land title-deeds given free of charge with the names of both spouses; and rapists be castrated.

The Daily Nation, July 31 – President Moi declares local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta his choice as KANU’s presidential candidate. “You have been hearing people talk over the country, but I want you to hear from me now that Kenyatta is my candidate,” President Moi is quoted as saying. He told the other KANU politicians seeking party nomination to vie for the presidency to look elsewhere and position themselves strategically should KANU form the next government. “I am still the KANU cha irman and will continue playing a crucial role in politics when I retire,” President Moi is quoted as saying.

The Standard, July 31 – President Moi tells Transport and Communications Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who has also declared his interest in the presidency, to back Local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, President Moi’s choice of successor, and tells Mudavadi that he would be allocated another seat in the next collective leadership.

The Daily Nation, July 31 – Information and Tourism Minister Kalonzo Musyoka declares his interest to run for the top seat after “careful and prayerful consideration and response to requests put across by Kenyans.”  He becomes the fifth in the KANU line-up. Vice President George Saitoti has not declared his interest but it is believed he is in the race for presidential candidate.

The Standard, July 31 – The race to succeed President Moi goes up by a notch as Raila Odinga’s supporters takes to the streets to display solidarity with their candidate.  These demonstrations take place in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Nakuru.

The Daily Nation, July 31 – The proposed retirement package for retiring Kenyan presidents draws sharp reactions, with several MPs dismissing it as too extravagant for an economy such as Kenya’s. Critics of the bill – mainly the opposition – also argued that the burden of maintaining the scheme could eventually prove too heavy in the event that there were several retired presidents. “It is too expensive a pill for the economy to swallow,” Gem MP Joe Donde is quoted as saying.

The Daily Nation, July 31 – Controversy is brewing over the National Alliance Party of Kenya, with two different groups – one led by Thomas Oino and the other by Gabriel Mungura – claiming that the party is theirs. Oino says that his party was registered in 1998.

The Daily Nation, July 31 – Residents of Sabatia Constituency propose at a CKRC hearing that future presidents be university graduates aged between 40 and 65. MPs and councillors should have a minimum of a Form Four level education. 

The Standard, July 31 – “Now let the people decide,” urges today’s editorial. There is a growing feeling that the dialogue about the election does not involve the “rank and file” of the citizenry. The fact that an MP supports a candidate does not automatically make it the people’s choice, says the editorial. “The dialogue is not about part leadership; it is about national leadership and the people should have the information they need to make a fair judgement.”

The Daily Nation, July 31 – In a commentary appearing today, writer Dennis Onyango says NAC’s ideas are worth trying out.  Among other ideas, is the idea of creating an election board that will supervise nominations for presidential, Parliamentary, and civic candidates. In theory, KANU has something like that, but from the fire burning in the ruling party over the choice of President Moi’s successor in the next polls, it is clear that KANU is not following tha t structure, he writes. NAC wants those interested in running on an opposition ticket to present their academic and professional qualifications, letters of recommendation, and CVs before the election board for scrutiny. NAC is saying that corrupt, tribalistic leaders and those who incite people to violence should be disqualified. If NAC sets up a free and non-partisan board to vet candidates and make fair recommendations, it can be sure to capture some of the most promising candidates across the country, writes Onyango.  All NAC needs to do is to reward merit because KANU is determined to reward mediocrity, Onyango opines.

The Daily Nation, August 1 – Today’s editorial argues that, as a private citizen, President Moi has the right to back Local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta – or anybody else – for KANU's presidential nominations. However, as the leader of his party and the country, he must stand above narrow interests and allow the democratic process to run its course. President Moi must be fully aware of the authority that his voice carries in KANU, it says. “This approach to party nominations is a trave sty of democracy,” argues the editorial. “The party does have a presidential nomination council mandated to manage the process of identifying the candidate in the General Election. By setting up a campaign outside the party structure, President Moi is sending one message to Kenyans – that he has no time for the rules and regulations agreed by the party he chairs – and, by extension – the whole concept of democracy.”

The Daily Nation, August 1 – Twenty-seven Rift Valley MPs support Local Government Minister Uhuru Kenyatta as their choice for KANU's presidential nomination. In a statement read by Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwott, the 27 said they made the choice after President Moi expressed support for Kenyatta. The names of 41 MPs were on the list but only 27 signed. The province has 44 MPs altogether. Those who did not sign the statement but whose names were on the list include Vice-President George Saitoti, Cabinet Minister William ole Ntimama, Dav id ole Sankori, DP MPs Mwangi Kiunjuri and Kihika Kimani, John Munyes, Andrew Kiptoon and James Koskei.

The Daily Nation, August 1 – Crowds in Vihiga, Western Kenya, wave placards in support of Cabinet Minister Musalia Mudavadi, at President Moi. President Moi, who was on his way to Kisumu, sat pensively in his limousine and contrary to his usual practice, did not come out to wave the one-finger KANU salute. He remained in his vehicle and did not get out to greet the crowds lining the roads in Chavakali, Mbale, and Majengo.

The Daily Nation, August 1 – The package for a retired president should not pre-occupy Kenyans, says Rev Mutava Musyimi, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) head. Instead, the big challenge facing President Moi should be to leave behind a united country, he says.

The Daily Nation, August 1 - Cabinet Minister Raila Odinga stands his ground, insisting he is still in the race for the KANU presidential nomination. Speaking only a day after President Moi publicly expressed his preference for Cabinet Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and asked his rivals to look elsewhere, Odinga says he will not seek nomination for anything less than the presidency. "No way. I am not going for anything less,” Odinga is quoted as saying. Meanwhile, Lands and Settlement Minister Katana Ngala also maintains that he is still in contention for the KANU presidential nomination: & quot;I have said it more than once that as long as the nomination process is still open, I will be in the race. May the nomination process facilitate the best candidate."

The Daily Nation, August 2 – President Moi says KANU will not be shaken by mounting dissent over his choice of Uhuru Kenyatta as the party’s flagbearer in the next elections.  But Moi’s speech is broken several times by booing and heckling from the pro-Raila Odinga crowd resentful of his Kenyatta-for-president campaign. The crowd bursts into loud protests whenever he mentions Kenyatta’s name, forcing him to plead for calm.  He warns that no one would succeed in rocking and weakening the party: “KANU has its owners, he who has not known this should know” During an earlier meeting at Kisumu State lodge, a group of leaders from Nyanza told him that the National Development Party did not merge with KANU only to com e out of the experience empty-handed. Endorsement of Kenyatta is tantamount to violating the party’s nomination procedure, they said.  The leaders reminded the president of the promises he made to their community before the NDP dissolved and merged with KANU. “We wanted the president to tell us which section of the new KANU constitution gave him the powers to pick its presidential candidate” they said.

The Standard, August 2 – Catholic Archbishop Ndingi Mwana’a Nzeki of Nairobi urges Kenyans to vote in the next election. He says he is so far satisfied with the progress in the succession issue, adding that Kenyans have the duty to elect leaders of their choice.

The Daily Nation, August 2 – Cabinet Minister Musalia Mudavadi confirms he is still in the race for the KANU presidential nominations, saying he fits the bill for the top job. He says he has not changed his mind despite President Moi’s backing of Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Daily Nation, August 2 – GEM MP Joe Donde applies for nomination to contest the presidency. He says he has paid the Sh200,000 (US$2,600) nomination fee and sent his application to the chairman of the nominating council of the National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK).

The Daily Nation, August 2 – Vice-President George Saitoti should not be ignored in the succession debate, says William Ole Ntimama, a cabinet minister in the Office of the President. “Constitutionally, the vice-president succeeds the president and I don’t understand why he is being ignored,” he is quoted as saying. “We went to Lancaster House and came back with a Constitution which allowed us to have a republican government rather than a dynasty or a monarchy.”

The Daily Nation, August 2 – The new constitution should forbid a retiring president from engaging in politics, participants say at a CKRC hearing in Bungoma District. They observe that a retiring president should not be allowed to campaign for any candidates in the presidential, parliamentary, or civic elections.

The Daily Nation, August 2 – In a commentary appearing today, Kwamchetsi Makokha asks: “What is wrong with the VP?”  President Moi must be an extremely bad judge of character, says the commentary; otherwise, how is it that he can keep a man a mere breath away from the presidency for 13 years and then suddenly say he has found a new successor?  Vice-President George Saitoti has sufficient cause to feel angry with his boss, his party, and his colleagues! Saitoti is conducting himself with self-control and humility, says the commentary. A vice president is considered the heir apparent. He is supposed to be an indication of the smooth transitional arrangements a country should have. So far, Kenyans have never been told why Saitoti is not fit to take over from Moi.

ENDS