Plan afoot to form new party in Deputy President William Ruto's turf over fallout

 Nandi County Senator Stephen Sang in Eldoret . [Pictures: Peter Ochieng/Standard]

Kenya: Trouble may be brewing for Deputy President William Ruto in his own backyard as well-placed sources reveal that a new political party is in the making to take on his United Republican Party in the Rift Valley.

It comes as part of a rebellion in the Rift Valley that has seen the DP and legislators close to him take on URP allied governors who support a referendum. The same allies now claim the governors are behind the plans for the new party.

Yesterday, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale clashed with Council of Governors Chairman Isaac Ruto over the referendum push in the presence of Deputy President William Ruto (see separate story).

Nandi Senator Stephen Sang was more categorical, saying he is certain that a section of Rift Valley leaders plan to decamp at an opportune time to the new outfit he claimed will be called ‘Chama cha Ugatuzi’, translated as “Devolution Party’.

“We are aware of the plans to form a political party rumoured to be known as ‘Chama cha Ugatuzi’ by proponents of the referendum to be headed by Isaac Ruto,” Sang claimed in a phone interview.

Ruto, the Bomet governor, is also the chairman of the Council of Governors (CoG) and is heading the county chiefs’ push for more funding under the banner ‘Pesa Mashinani’ (More Money to Counties).

Besides Ruto, governors Cleophas Lagat (Nandi), Paul Chepkwony (Kericho) and West Pokot’s Simon Kachapin back the referendum and have been the target of stinging attacks by the DP’s allies.

Ruto, Lagat and Chepkwony were elected on a URP ticket while Kachapin was sponsored by Kanu.

Sang, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, MPs William Cheptumo (Baringo North), Grace Kiptui (Baringo) and Kericho Woman Representative Hellen Chepkwony claimed there were plans to use the referendum campaigns to form a new party.

It was former nominated MP Mark Too who first stirred debate about the alleged plan by the pro-referendum team to form a splinter party to counter URP.

Speaking in Uasin Gishu during a church fundraiser, Mr Too accused Governor Ruto of using the ‘Pesa Mashinani’ campaign to test political waters before transforming it into a party.

Too said that the planned party would be used to counter URP in the 2017 General Election.

PLOY BY POLITICIANS

“Kenyans need to know the truth that the push for the referendum by governors is not purely meant for their interests but a ploy to form a party by individuals who have selfish interests,” he claimed.

 

Sang claimed the team led by Ruto is using the push for a referendum to test its muscle against the opponents of the national vote in the run up to 2017 elections.

Murkomen cited the 2005 referendum that gave birth to the Orange Democratic Movement party (after 2010 URP was formed), to justify claims that the current proponents of the referendum were harbouring plans for a new party and working for the Opposition.

“Isaac and his brigade should come out clearly and state whose interest they are serving and stop taking people round. These people are working with CORD, or whatever agenda that is not in the interest of Jubilee coalition,” said Murkomen.

Cheptumo gave the same argument while speaking during a funds drive for a church at Poi Primary School in Baringo North, Baringo County, when he said that the CORD team were on a “re-branding” exercise and cautioned Kenyans against falling into their trap.

“During the 2010 referendum on the Constitution, they used Orange, which gained popularity and later formed Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). What we are seeing now in collection of signatures is recruitment drive to form the Okoa Kenya Movement party,” Cheptumo said.   

However, Ruto refuted allegations that he was involved in the planned breakaway party and maintained that his team is only focused on streamlining devolution issues.

“I am not aware of any party at the moment and we have never sat down to plan for it. Furthermore, political vehicles are not a direct ticket to presidency,” he said.

He said those spreading such claims are in panic mode due to the momentum that the referendum push is currently achieving in most parts of the country.

But Ruto gave the impression that the governors would not hesitate to review their options if the Jubilee leadership continues threatening them while they were pursuing a genuine cause to improve the welfare of counties.

“With the threats and intimidation and talk of expulsion by some politicians in the The National Alliance (TNA) and URP parties, any politician would eventually explore an array of options come 2017,” said Ruto.

The tension in the Rift escalated after Lagat declared he will stick by his  push for a referendum and that he is also ready to quit if compelled by the party. Efforts to reach Nandi and Kericho governors were futile as they did not respond to our calls.