Ruto hard hit as winners and losers of Jubilee Party merger revealed

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto. (Photo: Moses Omusula/Standard)

The winners and losers of the recent dissolution of political parties are beginning to emerge.

Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto’s newly-formed Chama cha Mashinani (CCM) are the biggest beneficiaries of defections by elected leaders who have refused to join Jubilee Party.

Mr Ruto has widened his political influence, attracting leaders from the now defunct United Republican Party (URP) and scoring a political victory over his rival Deputy President William Ruto.

Five MPs, a governor, deputy governor and 56 MCAs, the majority of who are from UDF, which dissolved to join Jubilee, have joined Amani National Congress.

Isiolo Deputy Governor Mohammed Gulleid and 13 MCAs in Bomet County are some of the leaders who have joined the governor’s recently formed party ahead of next year’s polls.

According to Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u, 108 elected leaders have bolted from Jubilee within the 30-day window period.

Governors Ruto, Peter Munya (Meru) and Issa Timamy (Lamu) are some of the county bosses who have refused to work with President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP Ruto in the 2017 elections.

Mr Timamy and his deputy, Eric Mugo, and MPs Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga), Alfred Sambu (Webuye East), John Bunyasi (Nambale), Ayub Savula (Lugari) and Alfred Agoi (Sabatia) have all joined Mudavadi’s ANC.

The party has also harvested the majority of MCAs in Vihiga and Kakamega counties.

Party to watch

“The latest developments confirm that ANC is the party to watch as we approach 2017 due to its focused and pragmatic political agenda propelled by our mission to guarantee peace, provide servant leadership and salvage Kenyans from wanton poverty and corruption,” said ANC Secretary General Godfrey Osotsi.

In Meru, where leaders are still fighting over the Party of National Unity (PNU), Mr Munya and five MCAs have decided not to associate with any political party.

There is a court battle over the folding of PNU, which Munya has announced he will use to defend his seat.

In total, 15 elected leaders have opted to remain independent.

These include Vihiga Senator George Khaniri and MPs Kyengo Maweu (Kangundo) and Moitalel ole Kenta (Narok North).

The new trend could also be linked to the passage of a law barring party hopping.

And due to a history of shambolic primaries in the country’s major political parties, some of the leaders could already be taking precautionary measures.

The Political Parties (Amendments) Act provides that “a member who is a President, Deputy President, Governor or Deputy Governor, Member of Parliament or member of a County Assembly, and who does not desire to be a member of the new political party registered after the merger shall continue to serve in such elected office for the remainder of the term, and may join another political party or choose to be an independent member within thirty days of the registration of the new party.”

Orange Democratic Movement and independence party Kanu have also benefited from the realignments occasioned by the merger.