Why aspirants eyeing UDA ticket in Bungoma aren’t at ease
Cracks are widening in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in Bungoma, following speculation that only Ford Kenya will field candidates in the county.
Aspirants have called on the party leader DP William Ruto to step in and save the party. The aspirants for various seats decried frustrations from other partners in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance after they were denied an opportunity to speak at a rally held on Friday in the county.
Addressing the press in Bungoma town at the weekend; a day after the Kenya Kwanza Alliance leaders toured Bungoma County for the first time, the UDA grassroots leaders said they were disappointed by the turn of events at Posta Ground.
They claimed that UDA aspirants were overlooked while Ford Kenya aspirants hogged the limelight.
Led by Sophy Nekoye eyeing the governor seat and Maria Nato who is eyeing the Woman Rep seat, the leaders decried oppression from the alliance.
“We need an audience with our party leader. We have invested time and energy in our effort to grow the party, we can’t afford to lose it out because of the formation of a coalition,” said Nekoye.
She called on UDA aspirants to stand firm and ensure they are given an audience by the party leader to iron out burning issues.
Nato asked the Deputy President to ensure that there is no zoning because of the newly formed coalition.
The union between Ruto and Musalia Mudavadi could also be turntable in the fight for the Matuga parliamentary seat.
Mudavadi’s deputy party leader Kassim Tandaza is the Matuga MP and is fighting to retain his seat against a fierce campaign by Ruto’s allies to oust him.
Candidates in Ruto’s UDA include former TV journalist Mwanaisha Chidzuga, Kwale County SPorts minister Ramadhan Bungale and Mwalimu Digore; the Kenya Maritime Authority board chairperson.
The contest is likely to turn into a friendly fire between members of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
But Tandaza said the Ruto-Mudavadi union should not be a cause for alarm among contenders for various seats.
