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Battle for the soul of UDA gets nasty

Infighting, backstabbing, a 'mole' and political turbulence in DP's camp.

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by POLITICAL DESK

News01 December 2021 - 14:31
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In Summary


  • Negotiated democracy is getting messy as we're just beginning to see a few aspirants refuse to bow to the will of elders and step aside.
  • A handler of a leading trade unionist is on the receiving end after auctioneers swung into action and took away his car.
Deputy President William Ruto addresses Kinango residents in Kwale county on November 27.

A senior politico within the Deputy President's Tangatanga camp has triggered a storm in his backyard. The Rift Valley bigwig recently lectured a Member of Parliament over questionable academic papers. The MP had fired salvos at the county leader, accusing him of pledging lukewarm support for DP William Ruto while being a mole for ODM leader Raila Odinga. Furious, the politician went for the MP's jugular, insisting he had never stepped in a classroom, not even for elementary education. Their political squabbling is likely to trigger sibling rivalry in the United Democratic Alliance and spoil the party for Ruto in his turf. The die is cast and the battle for the soul of UDA is escalating by day.

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Still on matters politics, a governor from one of the arid and semi-arid counties has been holding a series of meetings in Nairobi to fight off ferocious opposition from a man endorsed by local elders. This is part of the negotiated democracy usually at play in pastoralist regions. But the county boss has stood his ground and will fight for his seat. The county boss, feeling threatened, has been hosting professionals at his Nairobi offices to scheme how to counter the elders' push and already millions are being raised for his reelection. It has now emerged that the county boss is plotting to switch political camps in the coming days as part of his 2022 plans. 

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The handler of a leading trade unionist is on the receiving end after auctioneers swung into action and took away his car over debts running into millions. What has baffled his close friends is the continued silence of the vocal unionist who brags of sponsoring several politicians.There are fears the man could sink into depression as the auctioneers have threatened to continue with their offensive against his property. A little bird whispers to Corridors of Power that the man is living in shock and has gone into hiding as close allies are also reluctant to come to his aid and bail him out.

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A woman representative from Western Kenya has been blowing hot and cold about her 2022 political plans. Initially, the MP had signalled that she would run for governor next year, but the unfolding political manoeuvres in her county could scuttle her ambitions. The intrigues are coming to the fore while she has been dithering in starting her campaigns. In the latest political somersault, a senator who hails from her clan has decided that he will throw her hat into the gubernatorial ring. This is now complicating the woman representative's game plan in a bid to make history as Western Kenya's  first female governor. Will she spring surprises against her male opponents? 

(Edited by V. Graham)

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