By Mutethia Mberia
Lion Place Nairobi, Kenya; May,27,2019.
The Party of National Unity (PNU) long-standing governance squabbles pitying two factions claiming leadership had the ORPP to thank following the party’s mediated election that was successfully concluded on Friday 24th May 2019 at the Karasani, gymnasium Nairobi.
The party was split into two factions who had been claiming ownership of the party. They had sought the settlement of the wrangles throughvarious court cases since 2016. In total they had been in court nine times. The last court case befor PPDT, gave the registrar the responsibility to mediate and oversee the elections.
In the implementation of the court ruling, the ORPP spearheaded the mediation through an independent select Election Board which eventually oversaw the carrying out of the elections.
It took hours of high level consensus meeting comprising of Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade and Cooperatives Peter Munya, present to play an advisory role and had previously served as Party leader, the Registrar of Political Ann Nderitu , the Elections Board among others to deliver the final list of the agreed leaders.
Delivering the verdict to sizeable delegates drawn from regions across the country, and who earlier in the day, had to endure more than 5 hours wait outside the gates, the Chairperson Seina Lekisaat read the names of agreed list for all the positions which were unanimously ratified by the registered party members acting as delegates.
Speaking at the venue, the Registrar expressed her gladness that the tumultuous process concluded successfully. She noted such a resolve was worthwhile for the greater good of promoting democracy. Sentiments corroborated by the elections Board Chairperson appreciating the ORPP’s unrelenting guidance.
On his part, CS Munya implored on the incoming leaders to hit the ground running to popularize the party which had greatly served the brunt of the leadership problems. “For the respect of PNU founders like Hon. Mwai Kibaki, whom I have a lot of respect, we must endeavour to rebuild the party as per its constitution and avoid unnecessary conflict,” the CS guided.
A section of ORPP staff were deployed to monitor the happenings of the day.
Delegates acknowledge the announcement of the unveiled new leadership.
Picture Courtesy; Daily Nation