ELDORET North MP William Ruto has called a crisis meeting tomorrow to assert his authority over the UDM party. The meeting has been described by some party members as "an emergency do or die" National Executive meeting to "sort out the outstanding issues". Ruto has been facing rebellion from some UDM NEC members who are opposed to his demand for immediate party polls. If Ruto fails to gain control of UDM, he is said to be considering ditching the party that he formed together with Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo and former MPs Maina Njakwe, John Sambu and Kipruto arap Kirwa in 1998.
He is rumoured to have another party vehicle on standby if necessary. Without naming names, Ruto yesterday accused his rivals of fuelling wrangles in UDM. "They want to use kangaroo means to comply with the Political Parties Act by filling the names of their friends in party positions. They are afraid of any elections since their positions are threatened by the new crop of members who have since joined the party," said Ruto.
Chairman Joseph Chirchir and Secretary-General Martin ole Kamwaro are said to be leading a rebellion against Ruto within the UDM. On Tuesday, Kamwaro said Ruto was an ODM member and could not dictate anything to UDM officials. Ruto has not yet formally resigned from ODM although he has been hostile to it for over a year. “Outsiders cannot teach us how to run the affairs of our party.
The affairs of UDM are structured and run through the NEC and if Ruto finds it difficult to operate within these structures he is free to quit,” said Kamwaro. “The UDM has structures and officials who are recognised and cannot be directed to hold meetings by members of another political party. They should not import dictatorship into UDM,” Kamwaro said. “What you are seeing in UDM are challenges of a party that is growing fast and some external forces who are scared of its popularity are using some NEC members to cause disharmony.
There are about 10 people out of the 52 NEC who feel that if elections are called, they may not retain their seats and now they have resorted to using the NEC to frustrate the polls,” Ruto said. “There will be a NEC meeting on Friday that has been convened by the chairman to discuss the elections date. We are clear that all seats will be up for grabs,” Ruto said.
MPs allied to Ruto, all still members of ODM, have accused some NEC members in UDM of promoting their rivals. Cherangany’s Joshua Kuttuny said the Ruto camp are determined to take over the party despite the wrangles. "We have no plan B. This party UDM is growing and we will continue assert ourselves," said Kuttuny.
Dujis MP Adan Dualle said the wrangles in the party only exist in the minds of UDM detractors. “They are scared of our growing popularity,” he said. One MP told the Star that Ruto has given the group led by Kamwaro a two-week deadline before he could walk away with his supporters. “He called Kamwaro and told him that if the mess is not sorted out then he will not waste his time in the wrangles as the general election is approaching fast”, said the MP.
Yesterday UDM chairman Joseph Chirchir said he had consulted with Kamwaro and they had agreed to have the meeting tomorrow. “I am in Kericho but have been consulting with the secretary general. I have asked him to set the venue, invite NEC members and arranged other logistics,” Chirchir added.
Ruto insists that the UDM must set a timetable for grassroots elections as the 2008 party polls were not national. “Elections were carried in about 20% of the constituents across the country. Now the party must open up following the ongoing recruitment," said Ruto. The Eldoret North MP faces yet another challenge to his bid to control the party as there is an ongoing court case filed by former chairman John Koech challenging his removal from the party leadership. The ruling is expected in mid January.
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