- There have been outcries and protests among some of those defeated over alleged unfairness.
- The party’s electoral and disputes resolution committee received 115 complaints.
Image: MERCY MUMO
Deputy President William Ruto is planning to meet winners and losers in the UDA party nominations as he seeks to stem fallouts in his camp.
Ruto is aware of the political consequences that might hit him should the aspirants, especially those from outside his turf, ditch him in favour of Azimio-Oka presidential hopeful Raila Odinga.
There have been outcries and protests among some of those defeated over alleged unfairness in the exercise.
The meeting set for Nairobi will come even as the exercise, which had been rescheduled or repeated in some counties, comes to an end on Thursday.
On Tuesday, DP Ruto’s communication director Emmanuel Talam confirmed the meeting will take place but was quick to clarify on its objective. He said it was not in any way aimed at taming nomination losers from ditching the party.
“Yes, there is planned meeting but I cannot confirm on the date now,” he said.
He added, “That was a democratic exercise and there is already an outcome. So we cannot say the meeting is held to stop any fallout because if they decide to go nothing can be done to stop them.”
It will also happen after the close of hearings and determination of disputes lodged by those who were dissatisfied with the process, citing massive irregularities.
The party’s electoral and disputes resolution committee received 115 disputes, out of which 58 have so far been fully dispensed with, with the remaining set to be ruled by Thursday.
While most of those aggrieved in the exercise filed their petitions, many others defied calls to present their complaints arguing they might not get justice.
With Ruto keen on cementing his support base as he prepares to take on Raila in the August 9 poll, focus will now be on him to steady his ship and guard his territory from any cracks, even as he wades through another murky water of picking his running mate.
The electoral commission has said it expects all presidential candidates to submit the names of their would-be deputies by April 28.
With only eight days remaining to announce his running mate, Ruto is set to use the forum to prevail upon the losers to remain in the party, support and campaign for those who won, to be assured of victory.
It, however, remains unclear if all the losers will attend since most of them have openly expressed resentment on how the nomination was conducted with signals clear they were on their way out of UDA.
A number of those who were running for the ward representative, MP and senatorial seats have already come out and declared intentions to run on independent tickets.
Governor Hillary Barchok, who is leading the planning of the meeting in Bomet on Tuesday, met the winners and runners up at his office where he appealed to the group to stick to the party to avoid the splitting of votes. He assured them of opportunities after the general poll.
There is already a mad rush in some counties mainly Bomet, by those defeated in UDA to join Isaac Rutto’s CCM party. This might give a major test to Barchok in the forthcoming election.
Bomet Senator Christopher Langat, who disputed the Bomet senatorial nomination, has said he will not be attending any meeting.
Langat has accused Barchok and Elgeiyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen of being behind the rigging which saw Nairobi-based lawyer Hillary Sigei floor him alongside nominated MP Wilson Sossion.
He on Saturday during a press address insisted he was rigged out.
While the senator did not reply to our text messages nor answer calls, his close aides confirmed he will give the meeting a wide berth.
“He is not attending it. That one I am sure about it, in fact he is Nairobi making necessary arrangements for registration as an independent candidate,” Jack Kirui said.
Sossion could also not be reached for a comment, with indications he was also going to snub it in show of discontent over what he termed as a well-orchestrated rigging.
Ex-CAS John Mosonik, who was trounced by Barchok in the gubernatorial race, said he was aware of the meeting but was yet to receive an official invitation.
“I am only hearing about it, I have not received any formal invitation from anyone,” he told the Star.
Mosonik conceded defeat early before the final results were declared on Friday afternoon, averring that he was going to support his opponent by conducting joint campaigns across the county to ensure victory for the UDA party.
It is during the meeting that Ruto is expected to tip-off his team on his possible choice as the deputy as required by the IEBC before the final announcement.
With jostling between leaders from Mt Kenya and Western regions for the coveted post, the pick will continue to remain a secret card for Ruto since he has to carefully consider many factors which include political interests and regional balancing, to avoid igniting a rebellion which might cost him the much needed votes.
Close sources within the DP confided to the Star that matter of where it will go to is no longer a 'hot potato' since it has already been narrowed to Mt Kenya region.
-Edited by SKanyara