Party of National Unity (PNU) wants Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya to be the presidential running mate to the ODM leader Raila Odinga even though he is a civil servant which goes against the constitution.
On Saturday, May 7, PNU Secretary-general John Okemwa Anunda protested against the exclusion of his name among the shortlisted candidates for the Azimio deputy president position.
Anunda wondered why their application was not considered by the panel yet PNU is a constituent member of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition.
“PNU duly submitted its application and forwarded the name of Peter Gatirau Munya for consideration. We are, however, yet to be told why he was not shortlisted yet PNU is a constituent party of Azimio la Umoja,” Anunda told The Nation.
The move by Munya not to resign from his Cabinet position might have been the reason behind him not being shortlisted.
In its earlier advisory the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission had said that cabinet secretaries who would have wished to be a running mate to a presidential candidate needed to have resigned on February 9 like other civil servants who had political ambitions.
Even though most of Munya’s allies are aware of this provision they are adamant that the CS should be named Raila’s running mate or they bolt out of AZIMIO.
“We were ready to elect CS Munya as Meru governor but he was asked not to resign with the promise of Azimio’s running mate position. This is why we have resolved that if Munya is not picked as Raila Odinga’s running mate, we will withdraw our support,” EALA MP Mpuri Aburi said.
The Azimio la Umoja- One Kenya presidential running mate selection panel chaired by Noah Wekesa had received 20 applications and on Friday settled on eight individuals after rejecting 12 others.
The panel shortlisted Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Peter Kenneth, and Sabina Chege who were both nominated by Jubilee of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Martha Karua (Narc Kenya).
Others shortlisted as possible running mates for Odinga are Gideon Moi(KANU), Ali Hassan Joho (ODM), Stephen Kipkiyeny Taurus (National Liberal Party), and Charity Ngilu (Narc).
