Eldoret North MP Wiliam Ruto arrives at a United Democratic Movement meeting in Lavington, Nairobi, where the party chairman Joseph Chirchir announced that grassroots elections would be held in February. PHOTO/ ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION
By JULIUS SIGEI jsigei@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Friday, January 6 2012 at 22:30
Posted Friday, January 6 2012 at 22:30
IN SUMMARY
- Leaders split down the middle with chair setting polls date as secretary opens a new office
Leadership wrangles in United Democratic Movement deepened on Friday after one camp set election dates as the other opened a parallel office.
Party chairman Joseph Chirchir led a meeting in Lavington, Nairobi, which resolved that grassroots elections would be held between February 7 and 9, while the national delegates convention was set for February 22.
On his part, secretary general Martin ole Kamwaro led another faction in opening a parallel office in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Security was tight at the Lavington meet as word had earlier gone round that the embattled party chairman Lt Gen John Koech planned to storm the meeting.
However, Lt Gen Koech did not make good his threat. He instead joined Mr Kamwaro, Vice Chairman Charfano Mokhu and treasure Yussuf Abdi in opening the office at the Red Card Centre.
All this went on even as Mr Ruto’s closest allies, Belgut MP Charles Keter and his Cherangany counterpart Joshua Kutuny indicated that they were ready to decamp to another party if a speedy solution to the impasse was not found.
Mr Keter told the Nation that they would announce their new party very soon.
Immediately after the Lavington meeting ended, Mr Ruto arrived and was followed shortly after by Chepalungu MP Isaac Rutto and his Lugari counterpart Cyrus Jirongo.
Mr Ruto refused to address the Press only saying he wanted a united party.
Mr Kamwaro reiterated that the Lavington meeting was illegal, and that Mr Chirchir would face a disciplinary committee.
“The resolutions reached therein are null and void,” he said.
“The resolutions reached therein are null and void,” he said.
He said the committee on elections formed on December 22 had not reported back on the suitable dated for the polls.
But Mr Chirchir insisted the party’s constitution listed the chairman’s roles as convening and chairing NEC meetings.
No comments:
Post a Comment