Ruto party replaces Kaparo as chairman
What you need to know:
- Mr Shill was Mr Kaparo’s deputy. He was endorsed as the new chairman and spokesman during the National Executive Committee meeting at the URP headquarters in Nairobi Monday.
- The party also picked Kwale Member of County Assembly Fatuma Mwachache as the new national treasurer, replacing former Cabinet Minister Mohammed Abdi, who was recently appointed ambassador.
Deputy President William Ruto’s United Republican Party has picked Fafi MP Barre Shill as its new chairman, replacing Mr Francis Kaparo who resigned two months ago.
Mr Shill was Mr Kaparo’s deputy. He was endorsed as the new chairman and spokesman during the National Executive Committee meeting at the URP headquarters in Nairobi Monday.
The party also picked Kwale Member of County Assembly Fatuma Mwachache as the new national treasurer, replacing former Cabinet Minister Mohammed Abdi, who was recently appointed ambassador.
Mr Kaparo left after he was appointed National Cohesion and Integration Commission chairman. After taking over, Mr Shill announced that the party will carry out grassroots and national elections next year, to pick officials who will replace the current interim office.
He warned rebels that the party will not tolerate them. “We will not have members violate party policies and ideologies by going out in public to criticise the leadership.”
“We have an Act of Parliament governing operations of political parties and their members,” he said.
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“In fact, the public is now funding political parties and it is therefore sad to see some members violate the rules of procedures as we have witnessed. URP will not accept this kind of conduct,” stated Mr Shill.
The party has experienced rebellion from some of its leaders, led by Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, who is leading his counterparts in other counties in referendum campaigns to push for more funds to devolved units. Several MPs including Nandi Hill’s Alfred Keter and Kuresoi’s Zakayo Cheruiyot have also defied URP.
