Kanu officials order URP out of party offices

By Renson Nyamwezi

Eldoret North MP William Ruto has been ordered out of a Kanu office his party has been occupying.

Kanu National Vice-chairman Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka said the Wundanyi branch office was the party’s property.

“We’ll kick Ruto and his team out of our offices as the property belongs to Kanu. URP cannot just collude with few disgruntled Kanu officials to take over the offices without the authority of the party headquarters,” charged the former Cabinet minister.

“There is no way URP can take over our offices. All party properties have been registered and whatever they have done is illegal,” he added.

URP colours

Ruto officially opened the office, which has been decorated with URP colours, at the weekend.

Wundanyi Kanu branch chairman Leonard Mwayongo said they had temporarily given the offices to URP to coordinate its affairs.

“Ruto has been in Kanu for many years and there is no problem in assisting him with an office to co-ordinate his party affairs in the area,” he told The Standard on Monday.

URP is reported to have paid some money to the Kanu officials to change the offices name.

URP Wundanyi parliamentary aspirant Simon Mwachia said they took over the office after settling outstanding water and electricity bills Kanu had accumulated for years.

But Speaking to The Standard from Nairobi, Madoka said he would consult with the party’s National Chairman Gideon Moi to ensure appropriate action against officials who allegedly sold the offices to URP.

The former Mwatate MP claimed that at one time the party headquarters had also to intervene to stop branch officials from selling the party’s property in the area.

“The problem is that we’ve hungry party officials and Kanu has to move fast to revamp the party at the grassroots level. We also need honest people to manage the party affairs at all levels,” he added.

Quarter-Acre

The former ruling party owns the prime quarter-acre plot on which the office was built in 1970s.

At one time, Taita-Taveta County Council threatened to repossess a plot belonging to Kanu over outstanding land rates payment amounting to Sh695,330.

But Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat responded by saying the party was aware of the land rates owed and was committed to settling the debt.

“We’re making efforts to have the matter settled once and for all, and we’re therefore requesting for the full amount owed to you by our branch addressed to Kanu headquarters,” said Mr Salat.