Ruto launches hi-tech drive for members

Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s United Republican Party on Thursday launched an electronic membership recruitment system as it rushes to comply with the Political Parties Act.

Mr Ruto launched the system as Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who attended the event, started collecting views on Facebook to compile his presidential manifesto.

At the same time, Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi resigned as PNU secretary-general to concentrate on Alliance Party of Kenya affairs, which is also in a rush to comply with the Political Parties Act. (READ: Parties in rush to meet tough rules)

Mr Murungi wrote to the Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti, who is PNU chairman, to announce his resignation.

At the URP launch, also attended by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and 25 MPs, Mr Ruto said the move was a sign of the technological advancements Kenya has made.

“We have to wake up and realise that we have to create a much more efficient system to manage our public affairs, especially when we form the next government,” he said.

Kenyans wishing to be party members send an SMS with their name, ID number and county, which will be used to produce membership cards.

Mr Kenyatta and Mr Musyoka praised the innovation. “We can use the same technology to interact as different parties. Kenya can only go to the next level through alliances and coalitions that unite Kenyans,” Mr Kenyatta said.

Mr Musyoka said though he had only been invited to the launch on Wednesday night, he could not miss it despite having official engagements.

He said the group had cancelled prayer rallies in Kitale and Bungoma in honour of Environment Minister John Michuki, who died this week.

The Alliance Party of Kenya convenor reminded Prof Saitoti that he, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Musyoka had signed a protocol for an alliance and that was what he was concentrating on.

“Under the protocol, we agreed to support the PNU Alliance Party to recruit and mobilise member and to take part in its nominations and elections. As a coordinator of the PNU Alliance Party, it is not possible for me to carry out the recruitment of both the PNU and the PNU Alliance parties at the same time,” Mr Murungi said in his letter.

He however said that he would still be available to consult with PNU and all other parties that would wish to work together in forming a strong alliance towards the up coming general elections. He added that he believes that the victory of those allied to PNU was uniting under the alliance.

On Facebook, Mr Kenyatta put up a form through which he would collect the views of Kenyans on what they would not to see in his manifesto.

He said that the views he would wish to collect are the priorities that Kenyans would want to see his government address nationally and at the county levels.

“I would like to hear what you have to say and we believe and hope that this “people’s manifesto” will go a long in encouraging accountability and in ensuring that your views are accurately represented, that your idea’s come to be considered and implemented and that our national ideals are consistently defended,” Mr Kenyatta said.