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UDM may benefit from Orange fallout

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By DENNIS ODUNGA
Posted  Monday, November 9  2009 at  22:00

In Summary

  • Rift Valley MP says party being popularised ahead of 2012

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) is being popularised in the Rift Valley to accommodate area MPs should they fall out with ODM.

Keiyo North MP Lucas Chepkitony said the party was better placed to attract prominent politicians and aspiring candidates from the region ahead of 2012 General Election.

Some MPs have been warming up to the party as differences between top leaders of ODM simmer.

And on Monday, Mr Chepkitony put on notice those dismissing UDM as a spent force. He said the party was carrying out aggressive campaigns to market itself countrywide. UDM has only one MP in Parliament, Sports and Youth Affairs minister Hellen Sambili.

Mr Chepkitony said some ODM members who felt cheated in the party were likely to quit the party in favour of other parties that offered more democratic space.

However, he said that ODM Members of Parliament from Rift Valley had not decided to ditch the party, which sponsored them to Parliament but were considering their options within the party.

“We have no plans to walk out of the party. It is too early to think of such a move because we are still committed to strengthening the party. We can only opt out if we feel short-changed along the way,” said Mr Chepkitony.

He also dismissed claims that MPs from the region were out to wreck the party then walk out to form an alliance with another party.

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“Such claims are based on falsehood and are only meant to shift Kenyans’ focus on more crucial challenges bedevilling this country,” said Mr Chepkitony in Eldoret.

Democracy

The legislator appealed to Kenyans to restrain themselves from the culture of locking out some parties from their areas, saying openness to ideas was a must for a country that treasured democracy.

“Kenyans should be free to decide their political destiny without being looked down upon by people from other regions,” said Mr Chepkitony.

Agriculture minister William Ruto, who is the Eldoret North MP, is one of ODM’s deputy party leaders.

The party chairman is Mr Henry Kosgey, and is also from Rift Valley.

The two have disagreed over Mr Ruto’s bid to gun for the presidency in 2012.


Add a comment (2 comments so far)

  1. Submitted by ekimutai

    The split that is around the corner in ODM, is actually a true picture of our leaders, I am certainly sure that they are or may split only because some leaders have realise that they are not getting what they wanted. I think in the near future which is only three years to come kenyans must open their eyes and eliminate those creedy leaders by their votes. We are tired of all this parties, we need good leaders not"good parties".

    Posted  November 10, 2009 08:05 PM  
  2. Submitted by Nichoo

    We should embrace the spirit of democracy.Only our leaders in Kenya like divide and rule fear tactics when they smell a rat on national politics. They should engage all nationally lest we call them ineffictve tribal chiefs.

    Posted  November 10, 2009 10:40 AM