Ruto, Raila Headache in 180-Day Grassroots Party Elections Order
President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) faces a significant challenge in completing its ambitious party elections within 180 days, exacerbated by internal disputes with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The directive from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) means President Ruto must address the contentious and disorderly nature of the party elections that initially led to the suspension of the process.
The UDA began its elections in April but had to halt the process after completing the polls in only Busia and Homa Bay counties out of the planned five in the first phase.
Elections at the constituency level in West Pokot were delayed due to concerns about potential violence, while those in Nairobi and Narok were postponed following petitions questioning the credibility of the process.
UDA had aimed to finish the elections in August, but the process was indefinitely suspended due to political unrest related to the proposed Finance Bill, 2024.
“In adherence to good governance practices and the mandate of this office, the party is instructed to complete the elections as soon as practically possible but within a maximum of 180 days from the date of this letter,” said Anne Nderitu, Registrar of Political Parties. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) also delayed its elections, which were initially set for April, citing heavy rains.
There is no current indication of preparations for the election process. Gladys Wanga, the new national chairperson and Homa Bay Governor, mentioned that the National Executive Council (NEC) would soon meet to set new dates for the grassroots elections.
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Ms. Wanga stated that the party intends to conduct the elections promptly to enable a vigorous revitalization effort in preparation for the 2027 General elections.
Emily Awita, chairperson of the party’s National Elections Coordinating Committee, informed Nation that the party will announce new dates soon.
Concerns exist that succession politics might influence grassroots elections, as rival factions may seek to place their loyalists in key positions in their quest to succeed Mr. Odinga, who is vying for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission (AUC) in an upcoming election.
Party elections have previously been fraught with conflict and chaos, causing many parties to avoid them.
Hassan Omar, the newly appointed UDA Secretary General, told Nation that the party is prepared to face the challenges and proceed with the elections despite their potential divisiveness.
Mr. Omar expressed the party’s intention to set an example for other political entities by completing the grassroots elections. He noted that UDA would convene a meeting with party organs, including the National Elections Board, to strategize on handling the complex elections.
“We aim to redefine political party management in this country. We will proceed after considering input from party stakeholders,” Mr. Omar said.
“It’s a risk we must take. Despite its divisive nature, it’s necessary to uphold democratic values and allow members to choose their party officials,” he added.
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Anthony Mwaura, chairman of the UDA National Elections Board, revealed plans to restart the elections in November, aiming to complete them by mid-December.
“We plan to resume in November during the school holidays, to finish all elections by December 15,” Mr. Mwaura said. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who is running for county chairmanship, emphasized the need to complete the elections to enable a significant party overhaul ahead of the 2027 elections.
He noted that other parties, such as Amani National Congress (ANC) led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, are already considering merging with UDA.
“We need to finish the elections to start strengthening the party. The UDA strategy is to complete the elections early to address any potential issues before the next elections. We must face this challenge as a party,” Mr. Sakaja said.
However, the ongoing power struggle between factions aligned with President Ruto and Deputy President Gachagua puts the party at risk, as disputes could lead to disintegration.
There is already a supremacy struggle involving Mr. Gachagua and Mt Kenya MPs led by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.
Some UDA MPs are reportedly involved in efforts to impeach Mr. Gachagua, aiming to remove him from the position of Dr. Ruto’s running mate in 2027.
This power struggle may impact the party’s grassroots elections, with each faction seeking to place their supporters in key roles to influence re-election discussions.
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“The grassroots elections will likely result in significant conflicts. The challenge for both Ruto and Raila is to keep coalition members satisfied while managing defections from rivals,” explains David Monda, a political analyst and university lecturer.
Prof. Monda suggests that the elections could lead to major regional political realignments, with defeated figures seeking alternative political affiliations. “We’ll be observing potential conflicts between Rigathi and Nyoro in Mt Kenya and who Ruto will choose to support,” he notes.
He adds, “In ODM, the focus will be on how potential successors to Raila Odinga position themselves during upcoming grassroots elections.” In 2014, an attempt by Mr. Odinga to hold party elections at Kasarani National Stadium was disrupted by a group known as the “men in black,” allegedly hired by senior party officials to prevent external forces from taking over the party.
In 2021, ODM pursued consensus-building in various counties for selecting party officials, culminating in a National Governing Council (NGC) meeting in Nairobi.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, in Jubilee, avoided calling for party elections despite pressure from his then-deputy, Dr. Ruto, for members to participate in electing officials.
Ruto, Raila Headache in 180-Day Grassroots Party Elections Order
