T*tanic battles loom in UDA’s Central, Rift Valley pr*maries
United Democratic Alliance is staring at bruising and bare-knuckled battles in its strongholds during the Thursday nominations.
The party, led by Deputy President William Ruto, has promised credible internal polls but the nationwide primaries are bound to test its strength.
In Kiambu, the governor’s contest pits Senator Kimani Wamatangi against Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina (Jungle) and former Governor Ferdinand Waititu, who have been going for each other’s necks ahead of the April 14 nominations.
The trio have embarked on vicious campaigns to woo UDA members in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s home county to endorse them as the party’s candidate. The winner will face off with incumbent James Nyoro (Jubilee), former governor William Kabogo (Tujibebe Party), Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria of Chama Cha Kazi and Mwende Gatabaki of Safina Party.
Kiambu is the only county in the Central region where there is stiff competition for UDA governor tickets. In Murang’a, Senator Irungu Kang’ata appears to be the sole party’s candidate, in Nyeri, incumbent Mutahi Kahiga will fly the party ticket, in Kirinyaga it is Anne Waiguru, in Nyandarua Moses Kiarie aka Badilisha is almost there, while in Nakuru it is Senator Susan Kihika.
However, in Laikipia, ex-governor Joshua Irungu and Laikipia West MP Patrick Mariru will battle it out for the ticket.
Propaganda from bloggers
For the Kiambu seat, reports had it that Wamatangi and Jungle were about to strike a deal for one to go for governor seat and the other to deputise. Jungle, however, termed these reports as propaganda from his opponents’ bloggers.
“There are no ongoing negotiations. If anyone is willing to engage me, the only discussion we can have is how I will offer them other seats such as the deputy governor’s position. This is because Kiambu residents have decided that I will fly the UDA ticket as the governor aspirant,” said Wainaina.
Wamatangi, the only senator who is serving a second term in Central Kenya has intensified his meet-the-people tours ahead of the primaries.
“We must change the way we do things in Kiambu. We will not accept again that, out of the 47 counties, Kiambu residents have been oppressed by underperforming leaders,” he said.
Jungle, the independent MP who made a debut in politics in 2017 when he beat former legislator Alice Ng’ang’a, despite her defending her seat on a Jubilee ticket, has also heightened his ground interactions and has been mobilising Ward Rep aspirants eyeing UDA tickets. He has been organising town meetings and rallies with aspirants as well as roadshow campaigns using branded trucks.
Waititu, who was kicked out of office over allegations of theft of public money and depriving a widow of her land through blackmail, has also hit the ground running although high-placed sources say the party leadership is not keen on his candidature. Despite having been convicted by the regional assembly over theft and incompetence — and ratified by the Senate and High Court — Waititu has maintained he stands a chance to vie because he has not exhausted all appeal avenues.
“How I was kicked out of office was unlawful. I have initiated so many development projects in the county and I am pleading with the people that, in the upcoming UDA nominations, they turn out in large numbers so that I will be able to finish the programmes I had planned for Kiambu,” Waititu said.
In the UDA Rift Valley stronghold, a battle of titans is looming as Ruto’s allies get ready to square it out during the party primaries.
People Daily established that the political stakes are high, considering that some of those eyeing the UDA ticket resigned from plum jobs.
In the DP’s Uasin-Gishu backyard, Soy MP Caleb Kositany, former Nairobi Devolution County Executive Vesca Kangogo, former Kenya ambassador to China Sarah Serem and former Kenya envoy to Pakistan Julius Bitok are eyeing the governor’s seat on a UDA ticket. Also seeking the ticket to succeed Governor Jackson Mandago in Uasin-Gishu businessman and politician Jonathan Bii, alias ‘Chelilim’, and former Uasin-Gishu County Assembly Deputy Speaker David Sing’oei.
Get strong candidates
The primaries are widely seen as a litmus test for the new party, which is positioning itself as Rift Valley’s main outfit ahead of the August 9 polls. “The DP will be walking a tight rope in ensuring that the primaries will be free and fair and, at the same time, ensure that the party gets strong candidates,” said Eldoret-based commentator Philip Chebunet.
Mandago, who is serving his second and last term, has since declared that he will vie for the senate seat currently held by Margaret Kamar.
In Elgeyo-Marakwet county, former Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett, who resigned as Tourism Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) and plunged into elective politics, is facing the battle of his life for the UDA gubernatorial ticket with Deputy Governor Wisley Rotich. Also seeking the UDA ticket are Josephat Sawe, who resigned as Eldoret Polytechnic Principal, and Dr Loise Chemenjo.
In Baringo County, incumbent Stanley Kiptis will battle against four other aspirants for the UDA ticket. Others eyeing the ticket are former governor Benjamin Cheboi and former Tourism Principal Secretary Fred Segor.
Yet others are Eldama Ravine MP Moses Lessonet, Robert Chelagat and Mr Sialo Kimiring.
The candidate who clinches the ticket will face off with Richard Koech of Chama Cha Mashinani.
(CCM) on August 9.
Cheboi said that he seeks to make a political comeback to complete the projects he did not finish before he was bundled out of office by the electorate.
“Insecurity remains a major challenge to us as a county and I will reach out to elders from the warring communities in a bid to find a lasting solution to the perennial menace which has derailed development over the
years,” Cheboi told People Daily.
Prof Segor on his part has promised to invest in irrigation projects along with the banditry prone Kerio Valley which he says has great potential.
He said that the county is also rich in livestock production and will ensure that more livestock markets and abattoirs and sale yards are set up in the region to boost the people’s economic livelihoods.
“We will invest in value addition in our livestock products for our people to reap fully from the sector which has a great potential,” Prof Segor told People Daily.
Kiptis who beat Cheboi by a huge margin in 2017 has dared his rivals to prepare for a bruising political battle in 2022.
“My development track record is there to be seen. Let them come. The people will decide who the best candidate is. I have done a lot as my rivals engage in politics. Let’s meet at the ballot,” said Kiptis.
