Story by NATION Team
Publication Date: 8/29/2007
Retired president Daniel arap Moi yesterday explained why he will support and campaign for President Kibaki’s re-election.
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| Former President Daniel arap Moi addresses journalists at his Kabarak Gardens home in Nairobi where he announced he would support President Kibaki in the next General Election. Photo/PETERSON GITHAIGA |
“I am convinced that President Kibaki ought to be given a chance to complete the constitutionally-accepted two-term tenure,” Mr Moi told a news conference in Nairobi.
“My reason for this decision is that President Kibaki, by virtue of his office as Head of State and Government of Kenya, is a symbol of nationhood.”
Mr Moi’s announcement at his Kabarnet Gardens home was the culmination of months of meetings and strategising between State House officials and his aides.
Influence Rift Valley
In announcing that he would back his one time vice-president turned political foe and friend again, Mr Moi will be seeking to influence Rift Valley voters to abandon the opposition.
The announcement drew different reactions from Kenyans, with ODM presidential hopefuls Raila Odinga, Najib Balala and Joe Nyaga describing the endorsement “inconsequential”.
Kanu chairman Uhuru Kenyatta and his group said the party organs would first have to meet to make a decision on any such move.
Mr Odinga, Mr Balala and Mr Nyaga dismissed Mr Moi’s endorsement of the Kibaki presidency as the former Head of State’s project Number Two which was doomed to fail just like his 2002 one.
At the time, Mr Moi, who was stepping down as required by the Constitution, had picked Mr Kenyatta as his preferred candidate in what came to be referred to as “Project Uhuru”.
Mr Odinga said: “President Kibaki has now become Moi’s project Number Two which we are going to defeat because we were all along prepared for the two.”
He said ODM was not intimidated by the resources at the President’s and Mr Moi’s disposal.
The Lang’ata MP described the two as birds of the same feather, saying they had a long working relationship, adding that he was not surprised by Mr Moi’s move.
During his news conference, Mr Moi was noncommittal on whether Kanu — which he chaired for many years — should field a presidential candidate in this year’s General Election. He said it was up to the members of the 47-year-old party to decide.
Mr Kenyatta and Mr Moi’s son, Gideon, who is also the Baringo Central MP, said the party had not made a decision to support any candidate.
Despite supporting President Kibaki, Mr Moi said he would continue to be a staunch and active Kanu member.
He described ODM and ODM-Kenya presidential hopefuls as visionless, tribal, selfish and driven by hate.
Although he could not name them, Mr Moi said President Kibaki’s opponents were only interested in leadership and selfish gains and if allowed, they would plunge the country into chaos.
False hopes
“All one hears is high-sounding rhetoric, giving false hopes to the people, as if a politician can develop the country in exclusion of individual participation and hard work of every Kenyan.
“While imagination and creativity are in order, pragmatism is a must,” he said of his successor’s critics.
Five leaders are seeking the ODM presidential ticket. They are Mr Odinga, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, MP William Ruto, Mr Balala and Mr Nyaga.
Mwingi North MP Kalonzo Musyoka and nominated MP Julia Ojiambo are eyeing the ODM-K ticket.
Both parties are expected to pick their presidential candidates on Friday.
Yesterday, Mr Moi said having been President and a “symbol of nationhood” for 24 years, it would be inappropriate for him to support any brand of politics that was not nationalistic in outlook.
Asked whether he had forgiven President Kibaki and Mr Odinga over the humiliation he suffered when he handed over power in 2002, Mr Moi said he had no ill-feelings against them.
The retired president, who has been calling on Rift Valley residents to wait for his political direction, denied being a tribalist. He said he had never been one or leader of the Kalenjin.
On his support of the Orange group during 2005 referendum on the proposed constitution, Mr Moi said he was opposed to the document after great thought and consultation.
But he was opposed to the transformation of the Orange group into a political party, saying this was done without consulting Kenyans.
Commenting on ongoing wrangles in the ODM, Mr Moi said the party “will split to the least denominator”.
He said he did not care which party President Kibaki belonged to but supported him because he was a symbol of nationhood.
Last weekend, Mr Odinga led other ODM leaders in accusing Mr Moi and President Kibaki of scheming to kill the opposition to keep the current government in power.
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