Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Ruto eyes new party after quitting UDM



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William Ruto. PHOTO/ FILE | NATION 
By JULIUS SIGEI jsigei@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, January 9  2012 at  22:30
IN SUMMARY
  • Internal wars force former minister to seek another outfit to boost his bid for presidency
Eldoret North MP William Ruto has quit the United Democratic Movement following internal wrangles.
The former minister has been associated with the party since 2008, but could not wrest control from a faction led by the secretary general, Mr Martin ole Kamwaro.
His close associates told the Nation on Monday that they had completed plans to launch a new party.
“We have procured materials to print T-shirts and caps for the launch and we are meeting today to finalise the choice of the party and the rules of engagement,” said Belgut MP Charles Keter.
He said the move was long overdue.
“Our supporters were getting anxious and were putting pressure on us to name the new party. We have finally agreed on that,” Mr Keter said after a meeting at a Nairobi hotel. It was attended by Mr Ruto, Transport Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Assistant Minister Kazungu Kambi, Chepalungu MP Isaac Rutto and former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara.
Last Saturday, the party factions held parallel functions in the city. One led by chairman Joseph Chirchir set election dates at a delegates meeting, while the one allied to Mr Kamwaro opened a parallel office at the former Red Card Centre in Upperhill, Nairobi.
Sources said this could have informed Mr Ruto’s decision to leave the party largely associated with Rift Valley politicians.
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The Eldoret North MP needs a party to contest the presidency after falling out with Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Orange Democratic Movement where he is, technically, a deputy leader.
Mr Ruto did not speak after the meeting, but his spokesman Aden Duale told journalists to expect big news.
“We have come here to consult. Expect big news before the end of the week,” he said before he drove away.
Cherang’any MP Joshua Kutuny said they had zeroed in on two new parties and two old ones, but refused to divulge more details saying it would jeopardize the registration process of one of them “which was in a critical stage.”
Mr Keter said the move to ditch UDM was long overdue.
“The move was long overdue. Our supporters were getting anxious and were putting pressure on us to name the new party. We have finally agreed on that,” Mr Keter told Nation.
He said Kenya was not developed enough to worry about ideologies as “parties were as good as their leaders.”
Mr Kutuny said: “It is William (Ruto) who built UDM from a moribund outfit to the mass party it is now and we have no problem building another.”
Last Wednesday Mr Chirchir sent a text message convening a NEC meeting, but on Thursday Mr Kamwaro wrote to the Registrar of Political Parties Ms Lucy Ndung’u, terming the meeting illegal.
The meeting however went on with Mr Chirchir’s function, backed by Mr Ruto, setting February 7, 8 and 9th as grassroots elections date while the national delegates conference was scheduled for February 22.
Yesterday, Mr Kamwaro was adamant, daring Mr Ruto and his group to quit, saying they were “trouble markers.”
The former Higher Education minister has however been guarded over the move telling the Nation and Kass FM International on Saturday that he was in UDM to stay.

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