Tuju named new Narc-Kenya chairman

Jokanyanam ma doko wach mamit manade ni! Donge di bed maber ka waungo Wuod Tuju lwedo motegno kuom yero ni yawa!!

Tuju koro sani onego ochung' mar bedo ker mar Kenya.

Julius Okelo

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http://eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143968110

Tuju named new Narc-Kenya chairman
By Peter Murigi

Foreign Affairs minister Mr Raphael Tuju is the new Narc-Kenya national chairman.

The party has also named an expanded National Executive Committee and announced that its national elections will be held next January. However, the party’s grassroots elections will be held before the budget is presented to Parliament in June.

Releasing the new line-up at a press briefing, Vice-President Moody Awori said he could not wait for the two weeks he had earlier requested because the party needs to move from the "board-room" to the field.

Awori, who is also Narc-Kenya deputy party leader, said the NEC had been expanded from 40 to 60 to accommodate various interests including sitting Members of Parliament and aspirants.

Tuju described himself as a neutral and compromise candidate who was not among those eyeing the party chairmanship. He said his first priority would be bridging the differences among party members.

"I take this as a major challenge as we go to the elections. It is a big responsibility that a position of prestige. I am not celebrating but sizing up the challenges," he said.

Attempt to strike regional balance

In an attempt to achieve regional balance, the new-look NEC has increased the number of the party’s vice chair-persons from the original four to eight—all occupied by cabinet ministers drawn from various provinces.

The ministers are Mr Kipruto Kirwa, Mr Mutua Katuku, Prof George Saitoti, Ms Martha Karua, Mr Kiraitu Murungi, Mr Ali Chirau Mwakwere, Mr Mahamud Mohamed and Prof Kivutha Kibwana.

The new secretary-general, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, rejected an invitation by Awori to make acceptance remarks, an indication that the line-up was done without consultations.

"Is this the way to inform me that I am the secretary- general?" Kituyi asked.

Garsen MP and Assistant Minister Danson Mungatana, who has been eyeing the secretary-general’s position also declined to make any remarks over his new position of national organising secretary.

Lands assistant minister Mr Asman Kamama, who has been interim chairman, is now the national deputy secretary- general (strategy).

Neutral and compromise candidate

The party moves to the field on Friday when it holds a public rally in Eldoret, the home turf of ODM-Kenya presidential aspirant Mr William Ruto. The VP also pleaded with party members who did not secure any positions to remain in the party.

Among the new chairman’s immediate responsibilities is to organise the Eldoret rally, mobilise support for the Magarini by-election where Narc-K is supporting Shirikisho candidate and immediate former MP, Mr Harrison Kombe, and recruitment of new members.

The choice of Tuju, like that of former interim chairmen Mukhisa Kituyi and Asman Kamama, is widely seen as an attempt to counter the perception that Narc-Kenya is Kikuyu party.

Narc-Kenya is widely viewed as President Kibaki's re-election vehicle.