Plans for a leadership coup in The National Alliance ( TNA) is slowly gaining momentum with a caucus of party MPs set to meet tomorrow to brainstorm over convention of the party’s Parliamentary Group meeting in coming days.
Kajiado North MP Moses Ole-Sakuda, one of those pushing for leadership overhaul in the party, told The Standard on Sunday, “The first move is to strengthen TNA’s Parliamentary capacity as the party is dwarfed in Parliament by its Jubilee coalition partner URP. Sakuda also said a lot needs to be done at the party and that elections are inevitable in the near future.
Earlier in the week, eight MPs had told the TNA chairman, nominated MP Johnson Sakaja, and secretary general Onyango Oloo to leave the party positions to permit the setting up of structures in readiness for 2017 elections. “We begun TNA actively during the by-elections in Kajiado and Kangema and have marched on to win the Presidency. We cannot stop now because somebody is moving out — for if we do we shall be swallowed” Sakuda told The Standard on Sunday.
Some of the MPs pushing for change in the party alongside Sakuda include Kanini Kega (Kieni), Jamleck Kamau (Kigumo) and Kimani Njungiri (Bahati). Kega said their plans were intact and that they would remain focused in achieving their objective of seeing a stronger TNA. Most popular Other pro-change legislators are Francis Waweru (Ndaragwa), JM Waiganjo (Ol Joro Orok), Tirus Ngahu (Kangema), Joseph m’Eruaki (Igembe North), Njogu Barua (Gichugu) and Kathuri Murungi (South Imenti). Current TNA officials include chairman Sakaja, Onyango Oloo who was recently appointed chairman of Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) and Vice chairman Lydia Mokaya who now works in the President’s political office.
But TNA MPs feel the party needs a more vibrant leadership given the party leader, President Uhuru Kenyatta is overwhelmed by State affairs. “We need people who can dedicate their entire time in popularising the party. We have not seen any TNA rallies around the country since the March 4 general election,” noted Sakuda.
It is believed MPs pushing for change have also been buoyed by opinion polls showing the party is now the most popular party in the country, having overtaken ODM. According to a recent survey by Strategic PR firm, TNA tops as the most popular party followed by ODM, with Deputy President William Ruto’s URP party — a member of the ruling Jubilee coalition — coming third. It is the first time TNA has overtaken ODM in popularity.
“We need to sustain this kind of popularity until 2017 and beyond. We have the ability to make TNA the party of choice for Kenyans for decades to come,” adds Sakuda.
Source-standardmedia.co.ke
TNA coup imminent as Sakuda leads MPs to oust Sakaja, Oloo from leadership
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