Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi suspends Nick Salat as the Secretary-General of the party
Kanu Chairman Gideon Manu/Photo Courtesy
By Joel Mufutu
Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi has suspended Nick Salat as the Secretary-General of the party. In a letter addressed to salat, Moi Indicated that in the National Executive Council on December 15, 2022, several complaints were witnessed in his conduct and violation of the party constitution were placed before the members for discussion.
“The committee resolved to suspend forthwith from carrying out or performing your duties as the Party’s Secretary General pending the determination of the disciplinary proceedings,” reads the letter.
While noting the complaints appeared serious , Gideon said the jurisdiction to deal with matters constituting disciplinary measures lies with the Disciplinary Committee created under Article 34 of the constitution.
The disciplinary proceedings will also be determined within 30 days from the date hereof ,According to the 2010 Kenyan Constitution, “Article 34(1) Freedom and independence of electronic, print and all other types of media is guaranteed, but does not extend to any expression specified in Article 33(2).”
The suspension of Salat comes a day after his threatening announcement that the Kanu party will be conducting its election early in next year that was aimed to rule out the former Baringo senator and KANU chairman GEDION MOI.
“Free recruitment of party members will commence early next year before the party’s national elections board(N.E.B) conducts national elections. The election will see ‘old dogs’ kicked out to allow a fresh breath of life into the once vibrant party” Salat said.
“We are not doing well at the moment and that is a fact. We need change, otherwise were not going anywhere,”
According to Salat; as a party they were not doing well at the moment based on the last general elections with neither a single governor, senator nor a woman representative but they only managed to secure a few MP and MCA seats.
The Bomet MP however, did not disclose those targeted, only terming it a major shakeup.
“No one is directly targeted. What we are saying is that we want to transform the party and make it dynamic yet again,” he said.
Independence party, Kanu, initially started plotting a radical shakeup of the secretariat that could claim long-serving Secretary-General Nick Salat.
Salat’s political wrangles with KANU boss Gideon Moi started when the party boss submitted to Parliament an application for the East African Legislative Assembly, a move the Salat alleged was selfish.
Salat had also forwarded his name for consideration for nomination for EALA on the Kanu ticket, triggering a political standoff with Gideon who later pulled out.
Salat had accused Gideon, who is Kanu’s chairman of micromanaging and running down the party.
On Sunday, Gideon said they are planning a radical clean-up in the secretariat noting that there is a need for fresh blood in the party’s leadership… he said, will ensure only persons committed to its goals are at the helm.
“We want fresh ideas and people who know where we want to be in 2027. We shall have our elections soon. Next year will not be business as usual. To anyone who wants a particular position, you are free to throw your hat in the ring,” said Gideon.
While he did not name Salat in his comments, it is understood that the ex-Sotik MP is targeted as the head of the secretariat.
The former Baringo senator noted that the outcomes of the August 2022 General Election, where Kanu was a member of the Azimio Coalition, should not leave the members in self-pity.
“Kanu may be a minority but our contributions in Parliament have always been tremendous. We didn’t realize desired results but this shouldn’t make us feel wasted. It was an eye-opener,” he said.
Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda said the outcomes of the last elections left them feeling lost.
“We have had to work fast and for a new path as we seek to re-position ourselves.”
In the August general election, Salat suffered a loss in his bid for the Bomet East Parliamentary seat after he was trounced by Richard Yegon of the United Democratic Alliance party.
Yegon garnered 35,431 votes to clinch the seat with Salat coming in second with 13,425 votes.
Kalya John Kipkoech, who was seeking the seat on a Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) party, finished third with 987 votes.
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