Senator dismisses changes in United Democratic Forum

Nairobi county UDF Women chairperson Pauline Achieng(right) and Secretary General Caroline Muthoni flagged by UDF members from Nairobi county addressing the press at UDF offices at Nacico. They protested against Musalia Mudavadi's re-branding of the party without  consulting them. [PHOTO: BEVERLYNE MUSILI/STANDARD]

Nyeri, Kenya: The United Democratic Forum (UDF) party nominated Senator Martha Wangari has denied the party was in a crisis following the alleged ouster of the party chairman and the National Executive Council (NEC).

The senator down played the alleged removal of the party Chairman Hassan Osman who is also a nominated MP.

In a press statement, the senator further refuted claims that the entire NEC has also been removed terming the reports as wishful thinking on the minds of some people who were trying to remain politically relevant.

"The alleged ouster only exists in the mind of people looking for political resuscitation through the back door," Wangari who is also the party treasurer noted.

In an apparent disagreement with the de-facto party leader Musalia Mudavadi, the nominated senator said the party's constitution clearly spelt out the process for any change in the party leadership and how to fill the vacancies when they arise and anything short of that was an illegality.

JOINED PARTY

Wangari claimed that the only vacant positions are those of the party leader and the deputy party leader.

"The party has never filled those positions or submitted records of the said position to the Registrar of Political Parties," she said.

Last week a section of leaders allied to Mudavadi accused the leaders close to Deputy President William Ruto of planning to "snatch" the party from them. Wangari, however, argues that Mudavadi and other political leaders joined the party long after it was formed.

"We only accepted and granted him the certificate to represent the party as a presidential candidate in 2013," the senator claimed.

She said her team has consequently gone, in accordance with the law, to the political parties' dispute tribunal to have the matter arbitrated.

"We have obtained restraining orders barring any persons purporting to represent the party or acting on its behalf until the matter is determined,"Wangari added. Meanwhile Mudavadi has called a National Delegate Conference for October 24 to ratify the changes as the two factions fight over the control of the party.