Thursday, January 12, 2012

Ruto goes for new URP party



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ALL CHANGE: Mwakwere and Ruto yesterday. Photo/Hezron Njoroge
Eldoret North MP William Ruto has finally dumped the UDM after failing to gain control of the party. He now intends to run for president as the candidate of the newly registered United Republican Party. At yesterday's meeting at Bibilica Conference centre in Kilimani, 33 MPs allied to Ruto resolved that they will decamp to URP en masse once it becomes convenient to leave the ODM. Another 10 MPs sent their apologies.
Ruto and most of those allied to him were elected on an ODM ticket but have since fallen out with party leader Raila Odinga. Ruto is still ODM deputy party leader. The URP party colours are black, yellow, black and its headquarters will be at the current UDM offices in Lavington. Yesterday, the UDM colours of blue, yellow and green were painted over in readiness for a new coat of paint with the URP colours. The party symbol will be a traditional African horn.
Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung'u confirmed yesterday that she received the application for the registration of the new party on Monday. She said she will review the application before issuing the provisional certificate of registration. The application is just an expression of intent and does not guarantee registration.
She said she had received the application form, the proposed name, a copy of the party constitution, the minutes that led to the formation of the party as well as samples of the party symbols and colours. Ndung'u has 30 days to review the application before issuing the provisional registration certificate.
To get full registration, the party will have to provide proof that it has recruited at least 1,000 registered voters from more than half the 47 counties and have branch offices in more than half of the counties.The membership should reflect regional and ethnic diversity, gender balance and representation of minorities and marginalised groups.The members of the governing body must all meet the requirements of the ethics and integrity clauses indicated in Chapter Six of the constitution.
The party should also have on its governing body not more than one member from one country and not more than two thirds of the members from one gender. Ruto allies who attended the meeting said the URP was picked as it presented an opportunity to attract national appeal compared to other parties under consideration. The announcement is likely to be made at a press conference tomorrow and the official launch of the new party will be held at the Bomas of Kenya on Sunday. The party will then embark on a nationwide recruitment drive.
Among those present at yesterday's meeting were ministers Naomi Shaban, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, assistant minister Kazungu Kambi, MPs Ekwe Ethuro, Helen Sambili, Joshua Kuttuny, and Charles Keter. Former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara was also present. “We have been meeting here as MPs from different parties and we are making good progress. We shall be making a major announcement on Thursday,” said Dujis MP Aden Duale who was appointed the party's spokesman.
Ruto, Duale, Magara, Shaban, Kazungu and Mwakwere were chosen to serve in the party's leadership and will lead the recruitment rallies. Ruto decamped from UDM after he failed to convince party officials led by UDM secretary general Martin Kamwaro to support his candidacy. On Monday, Ruto made a last ditch effort to persuade Kamwaro by sending a delegation of Maasai elders and councillors to convince him to end his long running wrangles with Joseph Chirchir, the acting chairman of the UDM.
During the meeting yesterday, MPs claimed that Kamwaro was working for two ODM ministers. Kamwaro confirmed he was approached by some Maasai leaders but denied that ODM was controlling him. Kamwaro dismissed the threats by Ruto and is allies to defect from the UDM. “How can they quit a party which they are not members? The UDM will continue without them," Kamwaro said.
Ruto formed UDM in the 1990s together with former MPs John Sambu, Kipruto Kirwa, Maina Njakwa and current Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo. After his attempt to take over UDM failed, Ruto was forced to seek another party to pursue his presidential ambitions. The URP is among five parties that Ruto and his supporters considered as alternatives to UDM. The other parties were the United Democratic Alliance, the People's Democratic Party, the Green Alliance Party, the United Republican Alliance/Movement.

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