URP maps out strategy

By VITALIS KIMUTAI and LONAH KIBET

The United Republican Party (URP) brought together 1,600 delegates from Nairobi County for a bonding and brainstorming session where the 2012 election agenda was rolled out.

The meeting followed a similar function held in Mombasa two weeks ago where Eldoret North MP William Ruto hosted 2,000 delegates at Wild Waters Amusement Centre for URP coast region delegates.

“We mean business and there is no looking back. From here we move to Meru tomorrow where we will bring together 900 delegates in Meru town,” said Ruto.

It is now apparent that all parties have embarked on a new approach - meeting delegates in different parts of the country as opposed to focusing on exclusively holding rallies.

URP Presidential hopeful William Ruto and Former Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo. [PHOTO: Jonah Onyango /STANDARD]

Last week, Ruto and URP officialsmet all aspirants seeking positions of county representative, governor, senator, women representative and members of parliament in Nairobi County.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has also held several meetings with ODM delegates in several parts of the country, while Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi also used delegates to develop his countrywide network.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has also perfected the more interactive gathering of delegates where as many speakers as possible are aloud to contribute on party matters.

“It has proved to be very attractive to politicians because it creates a sense of belonging among delegates unlike the rallies that are attended by all and sundry,” said a senior URP official.

In an apparent show of might Ruto’s party appears to be marshalling enormous resources that has enabled it upstage competition by bringing together a large number of delegates in the run up to the elections.

As part of countrywide Presidential campaigns which Ruto has kicked off to popularise his party and presidential candidature, he gathered 1,600 delegates drawn from seven constituencies in Nairobi at Nyayo Stadium yesterday.

Hundreds of aspirants interested in securing the party’s ticket for various elective positions attended the function.

“URP accommodates the young, elderly, the poor, rich, the able and the disabled in society because we strongly believe in equality and justice for all,” Ruto said.

Mr Ruto told the gathering that URP was committed to serious, determined and focused leadership at all levels to deliver much needed change in the socio-economic and political set-up in the country.

“We have started our march in Nairobi, the apex of the country’s politics. We have given a serious notice that we (URP) are in town and things are going to change. It would not be business as usual,” said Ruto as the delegates cheered him on.

The former Minister said the youth would determine who gets elected in the General Election because they constitute 70 per cent of the voters in the country.

It has again emerged that all parties are targeting the youth with ODM planning its National Youth Conference at the beginning of next month in Nairobi.

Personal pledge

Uhuru’s The National Alliance Party that will be launched on Sunday also boasts of a strong youth representation in its leadership.

To that end, Ruto said young people have the drive to change the politics of the country and that is why they can no longer be ignored. “Youth are the greatest resource in the country and with their skills, education and talent, we should be able to turn around the economy and make Kenya a secure and ideal tourist destination,” Ruto said.

He said URP would roll out its campaign in all parts of the city including densely populated slums inhabited by the poor and the rich in the leafy surburbs.

“I want to give a personal pledge that if given a chance, within one year of my Presidency, I will ensure that there is a standard gauge railway line to replace the one built in 1895,” said Ruto.

Former Speaker of the National Assembly Mr Francis Kaparo, the URP national chairman, MPs Aden Duale, Chachu Ganya, David Koech, Elijah Lagat, Peris Simam, Lucas Chepkitony and Sammy Mwaita attended the meeting.

Others were Jackson Kiptanui, former MPs Omingo Magara and Joel Onyancha, Wareng County Council chairman Paul Kiprop, Nairobi politician Amin Walji and Fred Muteti were also in attendance.

The Eldoret North MP assured URP delegates that the country will hold peaceful elections and dismissed alleged National Security Intelligence reports that chaos could erupt in the next general election.

“Prophets of doom are beating drums of violence ahead of the next General Election but they should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve and be told that God is in charge of the destiny of our country,” Ruto said.

Duale predicted that at the very least, URP will get 85 MPs into the next parliament because 41 MPs fully support the party in the current legislative assembly.

“Our roadmap, vision and conscience is clear and we are only waiting for the general elections for us to form the next government,” Duale said.

Mr Kaparo said the party will ensure that a free and fair nomination process is rolled out to enable party supporters pick the most suitable and popular candidates to lead them.

Party rules

“There will be no bending of rules in URP as we do not have favoured candidates. It is the voters who will elect their leaders,” Kaparo said.

Magara said URP was the party to watch owing to the support it had gained only 12 days after attaining full registration.

“The opinion polls have shown that slightly over a week after complying with the Political Parties Act 2011, URP is the third most popular party in the country,” Magara said.

The former assistant minister said that once the party kicks off its campaigns and recruitment drives, it will emerge as the most popular in the country.