UDA has shifted focus to 10 battleground seats in North Rift where an onslaught by independents is threatening the dominance of Deputy President William Ruto's party.
UDA party internal survey has indicated intense rivalry in the 10 areas ahead of a tour by presidential candidate Ruto and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi on Friday and Saturday.
The two will focus on pushing for a six-piece voting, a straight slate in favour of UDA. The call, however, has been met with defiance in some areas where voters appear unhappy with the UDA candidates.
More than 200 independents are vying for seats. including governor, senator, woman rep, MP and MCA in the counties including Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet among others.
“We are sure of victory in all areas but we weren't sure our people are clear on the direction to take on August 9," UDA regional coordinator Paul Kiprop said.
The MP seats where UDA is battling independents include Nandi Hills and Mosop in Nandi county; Kesses, Ainabkoi and Moiben in Uasin Gishu, along with Marakwet West and Keiyo North in Elgeyo Marakwet.
UDA is also campaigning for the Elgeyo Marakwet Senate seat. Ruto ally Senator Kipchumba Murkomen is engaged in a neck-and-neck battle with outgoing Governor Alex Tolgos who is running on a Jubilee ticket.
The governor race in Uasin Gishu between UDA’s Jonathan Bii and independent tycoon candidate Bundotich Kiprop Buzeki is another clash where UDA bosses will intervene.
But Buzeki and other independent candidates have insisted residents should not be forced to adopt six-piece voting and should choose the best candidates with the best policies, whatever their affiliation.
“Our people are wise enough and they will not vote for bad leaders who want to hide under political parties,” Buzeki said.
Governor for Uasin Gishu Jackson Mandago and UDA party leaders have said the region is locked for DP Ruto after a series of joint rallies in all the six sub counties.
They termed Uasin Gishu DP Ruto’s political bedroom where all residents would vote for the DP in the August 9 general election.
Uasin Gishu is Ruto’s home county and Mandago has been leading week-long joint campaigns for UDA candidates and the Kenya Kwanza team.
“We have agreed to all back Ruto not because his home is here or because he a Kalenjin, but because he is a national leader with the interests of the country at heart. That is why he enjoys support countrywide," Mandago said.
All UDA candidates, including governor hopeful Jonathan Bii, popularly known as Koti Moja, and those vying for MP seats attended all the rallies in Turbo, Kesses, Ainabkoi, Moiben and Soy.
The UDA candidates for MP in Uasin Gishu include Prof Phyllis Bartoo (Moiben), Julius Ruto (Kesses), Samwel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi), Janet Sitienei (Turbo) and David Kiplagat (Soy). Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei was also present.
Speaking in Moiben, Mandago and his team campaigned for six-piece voting for UDA candidates, urging residents to reject all independents.
Mandago said residents will benefit more from the bottom-up economic policy of the Kenya Kwanza team. He urged residents to form groups and join co-operative movements to prepare to benefit from various hustler fund programmes outlined in Ruto’s manifesto.
Resistance against six-piece voting is strong, especially in Elgeyo Marakwet. UDA candidates teamed up for joint campaigns against independents who are making strong inroads.
“We are asking our people to vote for UDA candidates because we believe Ruto will form the next government and he needs enough foot soldiers to implement the bottom-up agenda," Mandago said.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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