Pomp and colour at Uhuru Kenyatta’s party launch

Kenya’s Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has signalled his determination to contest the presidency despite the International Criminal Court indictments with the glittering launch of his new party, The National Alliance.The festivities at the Kenyatta International Conference centre were mirrored with parallel events at six major towns.In addition, it was beamed live on television and the Internet, together with running text commentary on Facebook and Twitter.Mr Kenyatta’s speech did not refer directly to his impending trial at The Hague alongside G7 alliance partner William Ruto, former public service head Francis Muthaura and radio presenter Joshua Sang.However, it made a strong pitch for safeguarding national sovereignty, a key clarion call for those opposed to the International Criminal Court proceedings.“Our sovereignty is core to our beliefs and safeguarding it will be paramount if we are to gain respect and influence. Freedom is never given on a silver platter. It is fought for and earned. Every year, as we honour the men and women who loved this country so much to have laid down their lives for it, we must task the government of the day with the duty of safeguarding this freedom”.Mr Kenyatta also alluded to the preference for a home-grown reconciliation and healing process. “The answer to true nationhood lies not in revenge or tribal animosity but in justice being our shield and defender,” Mr Kenyatta said.The launch of TNA was graced by dozens of Cabinet ministers, MPs and other politicians who loosely make up the alliance against Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The list included key G7 stalwart such as Mr Ruto, the Eldoret North MP, as well as Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa who, significantly, was the only guest to address the gathering.Mr Wamalwa started by clarifying that he too is seeking the presidency on the New Ford Kenya party ticket and was there as a friend of Mr Kenyatta and TNA. His prepared speech, littered with the “I believe” clarion of TNA, buttressed reports that he is Mr Kenyatta’s most likely running mate.Notable absentees included Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, who is out of the country, and Mr Kenyatta’s fellow DPM, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, who had his own political engagement in Mombasa.Mr Kenyatta’s political camp is believed to have encouraged Mr Mudavadi to rebel against Mr Odinga and storm out of ODM to launch his own presidential bid on the United Democratic Forum ticket.Since then, however, Mr Kenyatta’s allies have been openly repudiating the notion that their pointman in western Kenya is Mr Mudavadi.He, however, said his party will work closely or even merge with other political parties who shared the same ideals for the good of the country. On Sunday, Mr Kenyatta told Kenyans that the destiny of the country now lies in their hands. “The TNA government will go where you want it to go...but it will be responsible for its actions,” he said. Mr Kenyatta assured those who will lose out in the party nominations that they will be given other leadership roles.Both Mr Kenyatta and Mr Wamalwa emphasised the promotion of youth in their respective speeches.“Young people in Kenya can steer this country to the next level,” Mr Wamalwa said.He said the party’s chairman, 28-year-old Johnson Sakaja, was a good example of what young people can do if given the opportunities.