Season of revolts in UDA and ODM
after rowdy polls
Deputy President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga are facing revolts within their coalitions after tumultuous nominations that appear to have exposed their soft underbellies.
Issuance of direct tickets to cliques of politicians in the two coalitions has angered many supporters, with the sidelined aspirants standing their ground.
Now, slightly three months to the August 9 elections, the two adversaries for the presidential seat have been forced to address the gathering storms facing them.
Also, the search for running mates is stirring a hornets’ nest, with the deadline to name their deputies fast approaching.
The just-ended nominations have ushered in a storm in Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement, with similar turbulence facing Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance.
Dump longtime ally
Raila’s decision to back corporate luminary Polycarp Igathe for Nairobi’s governorship, while dumping longtime ally, Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi, has split the ODM camp down the middle, with supporters of the MP threatening to shift their allegiance to Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka brokered the deal that saw Wanyonyi, the initial favourite for the coalition’s governorship ticket, abandons his quest in favour of Igathe. The latter is considered a political greenhorn although he served as deputy governor for five months after the 2017 elections. He then resigned following failure to develop a good working relationship with then city boss Mike Sonko.
“Timothy Wanyonyi has made a decision to step down from the governor contest and go back to his seat as MP for Westlands,” said Raila when he revealed the city’s Azimio team. Another hopeful, Richard Ngatia, was also prevailed upon to step down and be appointed a presidential trade envoy, a position he would occupy only if Azimio forms the next government.
Thousands of other disputes are emanating from the primaries, piling the pressure on both Raila and Ruto camps.
Dousing these fires will require dexterity and diplomacy. But Raila might have to work harder to stem an imminent fall-out after the debacle on Wanyonyi — a respected, second term MP who enjoys solid support from ODM supporters in the city.
Now ODM will have to contend with just a senator’s seat if the party’s candidate, Edwin Sifuna, is elected.
“Nairobi is not negotiable. We are sending a strong statement that we will not allow anyone to play with our numbers,” said Makadara MP George Aladwa.
Surprising, Ruto appears to have quelled an uprising in the city without hazardous fallout on his presidential ambition after he brokered a deal with high-flying governorship aspirants on his side.
Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja joined UDA and was picked as the outfit’s candidate for the coveted seat. Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, the favourite for the party’s ticket, was moved to the Senate contest, with other aspirants asked to forgo their dreams for now. Ruto promised them nomination seats if he forms the next government.
However, Ruto has to first handle a revolt in Starehe constituency where a direct ticket was handed to Simon Mbugua, an ally and former Kamukunji MP.
Party nominations in the city constituency were postponed on April 14 following violent confrontations between supporters of Mbugua and incumbent MP Charles Njagua alias Jaguar. The sitting MP told off the DP for siding with Mbugua.
“The Eala seat he wanted to give me, he should give it to Mbugua’s wife instead,” the angry MP said, revealing the behind-the-scenes intrigues that might have accompanied the decision to back Mbugua. Interestingly, Mbugua is a member of the East Africa Legislative Assembly, an outfit that has become a fallback option for political parties.
Njagua has confirmed he will battle for the seat as an independent candidate.
“The will of the people cannot be ignored. I will defend my seat as an independent candidate,” he posted.
In the Rift Valley, Ruto is facing another rebellion. Many aggrieved politicians are challenging his stature in the vast region, citing the shambolic nominations.
Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis has already bolted out after losing the primaries. He is set to defend the seat as an independent, facing off with the predecessor, Benjamin Cheboi, who he defeated in 2017.
Won but not fully
In Nandi Hills, the nominations have put a blot on UDA’s countrywide exercise that was praised by the DP for being “free and fair”. The local MP was denied the party’s ticket despite being declared the winner.
Alfred Keter had initially won, beating perennial rival Bernard Kitur and four others. But Kitur successfully lodged a complaint with the outfit’s dispute resolution committee and the win was overturned.
Yesterday, Keter vowed to bounce back into the race. “It is sad that all of us are supporting DP Ruto’s presidential bid but some leaders feel they are more UDA than others. The people have spoken and I will seek mandate as an independent candidate,” Keter said during an interview on Kass TV.
