Joseph Nyaga’s surprise presidential move sets tongues wagging

As a cloud of unease envelopes the Mt Kenya region following complaints by disgruntled aspirants after the conclusion of the Jubilee Party primaries, former cabinet Minister and veteran politician Mr Joseph Nyaga has pulled a surprise by securing an independent presidential candidate certificate.

Mr Nyaga’s stealthy resignation as presidential advisor on regional integration and as chancellor of the Co-operative College on Wednesday morning to obtain clearances from the Registrar of Political Parties the same afternoon and the presidential candidate certificates from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Thursday, has set tongues wagging about his game plan.

The former Cabinet minister’s move also comes at a time of pregnant anticipation for an announcement by Kiambu Governor William Kabogo about his next move.

Mr Kabogo, who was beaten by Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu in the Jubilee primaries.

KABOGO RIGGED OUT

Last week, a source close to Mr Kabogo told the Nation the governor was rigged out by powerful forces.

Other key leaders with roots in the Mt Kenya region who have hinted at running as independents are Peter Kenneth (Nairobi) and Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua.

The results of the JP gubernatorial contests in Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru and the disputes involving the Laikipia results had triggered a suppressed debate in Central Kenya with fingers being pointed at alleged state meddling but few were willing to speak on record.

READ: Kenneth mulls defecting from Jubilee

On Saturday, Mr Nyaga confirmed he had resigned his civil service jobs to prepare himself “to be able to do what needs to be done to address the problems we are facing”.

CAREER DIPLOMAT

Asked how far he had progressed in the move that seems to have caught many by surprise, the former career diplomat turned politician said: “I have cleared with the Registrar of Political Parties that I am not a member of any political party, and I received my clearance to vie as an independent candidate.

My symbol was approved too. I proceeded to the IEBC for a certificate to vie as such and collected by endorsement forms. I am consulting widely, and I will make a comprehensive statement next week,” he said.

A presidential candidate needs to collect not less than 2,000 endorsement signatures by eligible and registered voters in 24 counties, an enormous and tedious task.

On the motivation for the his bold and surprise move, Mr Nyaga said some things had gone wrong in the primaries on both sides of the political divide, and he was acting on behalf of those who think the unprecedented high number of disputes and independent candidates was a sign of something deeply flawed in the process.

INDEPENDENT CADIDATES

“I am an experienced politician and I have never seen anything like the high numbers of disputes and independent candidates. Independent candidates have their place, but when they are so many, in the wake of grievances that are likely to make them a significant presence in Parliament and county assemblies — not to mention governors and senators — the country needs to pay attention. Both Jubilee and Nasa have missed something,” Mr Nyaga said.

He added that Kenyans should wake up to the dangers of having such high numbers of independents running institutions like Parliament but “floating like hawkers” out there.

“Majority from Western Kenya, Central Kenya to the Coast who have serious and valid grievances will be elected. My question is who speaks for these people?

Who brings them together? Should they be heard or ignored? Are they not leaders with a following behind them? Who should be held accountable for messing up the primaries?” Mr Nyaga posed.

INCONVENIENT MOMENT

On whether he feared his move might be perceived as a distraction at an inconvenient moment for his former boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, Mr Nyaga said he was wide awake to that and was prepared for the flak.

“I am sure that like Mr Koigi Wamwere (who defected to Nasa), I will be initially misunderstood, and I am prepared for that. But in the end people, especially my people from Mt Kenya region, will understand and appreciate what I am doing. It is important to take care of all possible scenarios. I will issue a comprehensive statement next week. Consultations are still going on,” he said without elaboration.

It is not the first time Mr Nyaga is pulling political moves that seem to go against the grain initially but which come in handy later.

In 2007, he joined the ODM Pentagon, and ended up in the Grand Coalition Cabinet through Mr Raila Odinga’s side at a time his region was supporting Mr Mwai Kibaki’s PNU.

REBEL STATUS

However, it was during the 2010 Constitution referendum that his role as a “rebel” status helped persuade the Mbeere community to support the draft Constitution, owing to his former status as chair of the Minorities Caucus in the Bomas of Kenya constitutional talks.

The community had been reluctant to be lumped together with the Embu community owing to their historical political power sharing grievances and mistrust.

Several factors converge to explain why Mr Nyaga’s move is potentially disruptive or helpful for President Kenyatta’s re-election campaign.

In Central Kenya, being critical of Jubilee administration on record is a subject many politicians avoid, and often opinion is guarded and expressed in coded language.

Mt Kenya East has also been restive, and no chieftain had emerged to claim the mantle of regional supremo.

FIGHT APATHY

On Tuesday, Mr Kabogo met a group elders led by chairman of Kikuyu Council of Elders Wachira Kiago, but he had not announced his options by the close of the week, only indicating he will make a statement this coming week.

“There is a vacant political office in Central Kenya. Whoever emerges to harness  the sentiment arising from the JP primaries, will have a platform to influence post-Uhuru politics starting August. This is how the Deputy President started by going against retired President Moi. Uhuru himself cut his teeth by being leader of official opposition against President Mwai Kibaki and highlighting the Anglo Leasing scam,” a Central Kenya politician who spoke in confidence, said.

But Mr Kiago thinks Central Kenya should put the primaries behind and fight apathy to mobilise presidential vote.