Storm hits UDA as allies disown party statement

Eric Wainaina and Rawlings Otieno

To form an alliance or super party is a question that is raffling feathers in Deputy President William Ruto’s camp. 

His inner circle is adamant the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) will be the vessel of the Hustler Nation in the 2022 General-Election. 

However, a big chunk of his supporters think they will only join UDA as partners, not as individuals.

The dispute was triggered by the recent victories by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria’s Peoples Empowerment Party (PEP) in Juja constituency and a ward in Murang’a with forces around Ruto accusing the controversial legislator of using the DP’s “Hustler constituency” to foster his own political ambitions.

This is said to be have informed Kuria’s decision to withdraw his candidate from the Kiambaa mini-polls following consultations with Ruto but after a spat with Mathira lawmaker Rigathi Gachagua, Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati) and his Kikuyu counterpart Kimani Inchung’wah who maintained that UDA must field a candidate in Kiambaa.

Leadind calls

The Gachagua-Ngunjiri- Ichung’wah axis, which feels is the bona fide Hustler leadership, has been leading calls for friendly parties to join UDA.

They include former Agriculture minister Mwangi Kiunjuri’s The Service Party (TSP), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara and Kuria’s PEP.

Kiunjuri and Magara yesterday swiftly denounced a statement by UDA secretary-general Veronica Maina that they were headed to the party. 

“It is important to point out that it is not true that PDP belongs to Omingo Magara. In fact, in the spirit of the Hustler nation, he has left the party and joined UDA.

In the same vein, Mwangi Kiunjuri of  The Service Party has been consulting with UDA on a united approach in fielding of candidates and other Hustler nation activities,” said Ms Maina.

The statement followed Kuria’s declaration that he had withdrawn his candidate to make Gachagua and Ichun’gwah, who back UDA’s Ng’ang’a wa Wanjiku, “happy.”

But Magara and Kiunjuri yesterday insisted that it was possible to support Ruto   without breaking up their parties.

“It is unarguable that my presidential candidate is Ruto and we shall do anything possible to make sure he wins.

As we speak and as per the records of the Registrar of Parties, I am still the PDP leader.

We are in negotiations with other partners but any deal will be endorsed by the party’s governing organ and must be mutually beneficial,” Magara told People Daily.

Kiunjuri, who has not fielded any candidates in the central Kenya by-elections so far, yesterday gave clear indications that though he supports Ruto, he will not join UDA.

“I am building a national party. I would not want to comment on other parties. I am concentrating on building TSP,” Kiunjuri said.

Omingo said the experience of some politicians after the merger of Jubilee in 2017 has made most of them cagey about joining UDA, adding that those already in the outfit feel their partners who have “serious parties” may have stronger bargaining power in coalition deals.

“They feel that when one has a political party, unlike individuals, you come to the negotiating table with bigger weight.

They should not worry because if the parties share the same aspirations and ideologies and have agreed on the bigger picture of the presidential candidate, why fight?” Magara posed.

Buoyed by the victory in Juja where his candidate won, Kuria had unveiled Raymond Kuria as his candidate in Kiambaa, a move that angered Rigathi and Ichung’wah, who swiftly moved to take over campaigns for the UDA candidate.

Kuria, had in a statement, celebrated his victory in the Gaturi and Juja by-elections where he beat Jubilee candidates and expressed confidence of a victory in Kiambaa.

Kuria chided Rigathi on Friday, suggesting he had dragged the dictatorial tendencies of the provincial administration during the Moi era to Tanga Tanga. Rigathi once served as a Special District Officer (DO) in the Kanu regime.

“PEP’s message of hope and renewal has been endorsed by the voters of Gaturi Ward in Muranga on December 15, 2020, and Juja constituency on May 18, 2021.

We wanted to present this message for approval by the people of Kiambaa constituency on the July 15,” said Kuria.

“However, this did not go down very well with my colleagues, particularly Gachagua and Ichung’wah.

Yesterday, I held extensive discussions with my boss and friend William Ruto on this matter.

To make my two colleagues happy and above all for the unity of the Hustler nation, PEP will not be fielding a candidate in the Kiambaa by-election,” Kuria said.

Sources told People Daily that allies fear being shortchanged in the UDA primaries pointing to the 2017 Jubilee nominations when some big wigs were thrown out, forcing them to run as independents.

“Unlike most politicians who view political parties as vehicles for winning elections, the DP believes in the party system. For him, the party is the government and the government is the ruling party.

They feel that he will have the grip of the party and its affairs and that is why they want to have their own outfits but still back him,” the source said.

While Kuria, Kiunjuri and Magara are already popularising their political parties, Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki and Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa are reportedly working on unveiling their own formations.

Yesterday, Kindiki downplayed the rivalry, saying it was normal for politicians to jostle for space and positions ahead of elections.

Sibling rivalry

“There is no sibling rivalry in UDA. These are normal political jostling for people to shine. Any time a new government is being formed or planned, people fight for positions. This is normal.

UDA’s mantra should be gather all, scatter none. My challenge is that he manages all those parties supporting his candidacy,” said Kindiki.

Political analyst Dismus Mokua argued that parties in Kenya are special purpose vehicles used to acquire political seats and bargain for power but most lack discipline.

“This explains why DP Ruto’s allies are forming parties aligned to UDA because they want bargaining power and they are not sure if UDA will be run on democratic principles and if the UDA primaries will be fair.

It is an indication of suspicion within the so-called ‘Hustler nation,” said Mokua.

Trouble in the DP camp began to simmer after he hosted a section of central Kenya MPs in the Masai Mara, led by Rigathi, Ichung’wah, Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) and Ngunjiri who said they had resolved that Ruto will be the region’s candidate for the 2022 election with the Mathira legislator touted as a possible running mate.