US lobby boosts PNU campaign kitty

By ENOCK WAMBUA
Sun, Nov 04, 2007 15:53 PM (EAT)

Kenyans living in New Jersey held a fundraising dinner in aid of the Kibaki re-election campaign on Saturday night.

Two weeks into its launch, the PNU-USA held the first of its ten scheduled fundraising events with calls for unity among Kenyans in the countdown to the December 27 General Election.

At the time of going to press, the actual amount raised had not been made public with the organisers only saying that it was a successful event.

The function was attended by the Kenyan Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Muburi-Muita, Kenya's Ambassador to UN-Habitat Mr Karanja and Chairman of Equity Bank Mr Peter Munga Kahara among other dignitaries.

Speaking at the function, PNU-USA National Chairman Mr Wilfred ole Saroni urged Kenyans to shun divisive politics and embrace divergent political views saying political violence was bound to scare away investors and potential tourists.

This was the first time for a pro-Kibaki major political event to be held in New Jersey, which has previously hosted ODM leaders. A number of those who attended the function said it was a milestone for PNU in a constituency largely viewed as pro-opposition.

Speakers at the event included representatives from PNU affiliate parties and lobby groups supporting Kibaki's bid for a second term. Among them were PNU-USA National Coordinator Ms Mwende Mwinzi, Benson Wandabwa (Ford Kenya) and John Nyamache (Ford Asili).

Mr Kahara said Kenya had received international recognition on account of a strong economy saying his bank had revised its vision from focusing on the Kenyan market to focusing on the African market. Addressing the gathering, Ms Mwinzi said the Kibaki administration was "investor-friendly, pro-poor and pro-Kenya".

Referring to calls for a majimbo system of government by ODM and ODM-K leaders, she said the country's national leadership should invest in uniting the country and not dividing Kenyans along tribal lines. Ms Mwinzi, who is also a member of Kenya's Economic and Social Council, said Kenyans at home and those living abroad had "harvested the benefits of good leadership with little rhetoric".

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--- Margaret Gichuki - - Wams2006@ . . . wrote:

Mwende and Team,
Congrats for a Job well done.
Kazi Indelee...

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From: james karanja - -jamesnkaranja@ . . .

Congratulations to the newly launched New Jersey PNU-USA!