http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=1144025270&cid=159&
Kalonzo refutes claims of 2012 succession plan
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has denied reports that President Kibaki has anointed him his successor.
Kalonzo said, contrary to media reports quoting him to that effect, he was ready to participate in a free and fair nomination in picking a PNU coalition flag bearer for the president in 2012.
"I was quoted out of context that I am a declared PNU flag bearer. What I said was that in the PNU coalition, the three top party leaders, I, Kanus Uhuru Kenyatta, PNUs George Saitoti and other party leaders will find a way of agreeing on a single candidate," said the VP.
Succession scheme
He said he would never want a situation where fellow party leaders viewed him as an impostor.
The VP spoke to The Standard from France, on his way back from a one-week visit to Venezuela.
He said efforts were, however, under way to bring PNU affiliates to agree on how to approach the next elections.
Yesterday PNU vice-chairman George Nyamweya said none of the PNU candidates has been anointed and advised those eyeing the presidency to avoid making announcements that could divide the party.
He said a meeting to discuss how to harmonise campaigns in the Kibaki succession scheme was under way and there would be a retreat for party leaders to agree on how to proceed.
Mr Nyamweya, who is a PNU nominated MP said he did not expect Kibaki to impose a candidate on the party.
"We expect the President as our party leader to guide us on how best to nominate a team leader. He is a democrat just like the VP is and we are looking forward to a transparent process," said Nyamweya.
At the same time, Democratic Party (DP) insists it will not blindly support any candidate even if Kibaki endorsed him or her as a PNU 2012 presidential candidate. DP is an affiliate of PNU.
Party leader Joseph Munyao and chairman Wilfred Machage were speaking after paying a courtesy call on the Japanese Ambassador Shigeo Iwatani, during which they congratulated DP for winning the countrys presidential election.
The two leaders said DP would field its own presidential candidate.