Ruto orders recruitment to check TNA sway

Deputy President William Ruto is becoming increasingly concerned that his party, URP, might be overshadowed by its principal partner in Jubilee, The National Alliance (TNA), ahead of 2017 General Election.

The fear is profound, despite the fact that URP boasts a number of powerful seats in both the legislature and executive arms of government, like the Majority Leader’s slot in the National Assembly, a position occupied by Garissa Town MP Aden Duale.

And in a bid to turn the tide, the DP has tasked the URP secretariat with devising ways of staying afloat as well as firming up the outfit’s presence even in areas where it has no representation in Parliament or in the county assemblies.

The Sunday Nation has seen the agenda of a meeting of the party’s National Executive Council (Nec) on Monday at the party headquarters, Nairobi, where the growth and identity of URP within the alliance is listed as the overriding matter of concern.

Mr Ruto has also ordered a massive recruitment drive, and the party secretariat has been asked to enlist at least 10 million new members in what signals his intention to play a major role in the political landscape and, subsequently, the next elections.

But the move may be interpreted within TNA quarters as meant to counter its ongoing recruitment of youth, a claim URP denies.

The undertaking to strengthen URP “in between elections” might also give the impression that it may have lost its oomph after the last elections.

GRASSROOT MOBILISATION
According to the party’s secretary-general Fred Muteti, the NEC will also discuss the modalities of grassroots mobilisation.

“We seek to strengthen URP as an institution because we believe political parties have a greater role in democratising politics. Already, the women and youth leagues are up and running, and we are also launching all the URP branches in the country to give them more impetus,” he said, adding they now have a firm grip in some 33 counties.

“Article 38 (1) of the Political Parties Act is explicit that every citizen is free to make political choices, which includes the right to form, or participate in forming, a political party.

Part 2 says such rights include participating in activities like recruiting members, so URP is not engaging in any illegality here,” he said.

Baringo North MP William Cheptumo, one of the 31 NEC members, attributes what is happening in Jubilee to the fact that the phenomenon of coalitions is fairly new in the country.

“Honestly speaking, there is no single coalition world over that has no challenges, whether real or perceived. To me, the most important thing is to applaud President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy for having managed to work closely for the last two years.

I know some people are not happy with this prevailing unity as their wish has been that Jubilee falls apart,” he said.

AVAILABLE OPTIONS
He added: “The issue of being outmanoeuvred by TNA is a mere perception; the fact that our leaders managed the delicate stage of constituting a cabinet demonstrated to all doubting Thomases that we can surmount any challenge that comes our way.”

URP has a huge following in the Rift Valley as well as Northern Kenya and pockets of other areas like Busia where two MPs were elected on its ticket.

URP insiders say their aim is to increase the number of MPs from the current 98 (both elected and nominated) in the National Assembly and the Senate twofold in 2017.

Although both Mr Kenyatta and Ruto insist that their alliance will hold, pundits reckon Mr Ruto may well decide to break his political marriage with Mr Kenyatta depending on realignments that will precede the polls.

“I do not think there is an ulterior motive. The decision to strengthen URP looks administrative. But again, Mr Ruto will weigh his options so that if by staying in the pact with Uhuru means he will still be the deputy president after 2017 polls, he will not decamp.

He will be guided by what advances his cause,” Dr Joshua Kivuva from the University of Nairobi’s School of Political Science said.