Cracks emerge in URP after grassroots polls

By Vitalis Kimutai

GLANCE FACTS

Wrangling members

• Wrangles have dogged URP since party leader William Ruto formed the party

• Recently, Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto and Rongai’s Luka Kigen threatened to quit he party after accusing party leader of undermining them

• Kigen suspected that URP officials led by party leader are grooming former URP interim chairman Nixon Korir to unseat him in Rongai

• Supremacy wars have also stalked Charles Keter (Belgut) and his Chepalungu counterpart

Disputes have rocked United Republican Party (URP) county elections with delegates demanding for polls to be repeated in Nairobi and Nakuru over alleged irregularities.

A section of delegates protested the picking of Kilimani ward ODM councillor Lynet Mirihane as Nairobi County chairperson despite the fact she is not a URP member.

Mr Peter Kongolo, who contested the chairmanship post, led delegates from Mathare and Makadara in walking out of the hall at URP headquarters in Lavington at the weekend when the ODM councillor was allowed to take part in the exercise.

“How can an ODM councillor be allowed to take part in URP elections when she is not a party member and has not resigned in line with Political Parties Act,” Kongolo wondered.

Mirihane has been URP co-ordinator in Nairobi County since last year but the post is not elective.

Seek clarification

“We will take the matter to the Registrar of Political Parties and Political Parties Tribunal. We will also write to ODM to seek clarification on membership status of the councillor,” Kongolo said.

He led members of Masufferer lobby group in demanding that party chairman Francis ole Kaparo and Eldoret North MP William Ruto intervene in the matter.

“We are also concerned that only 17 delegates out of 340 from 11 constituencies in Nairobi took part in the election. Something is seriously wrong here,” Kongolo said.

In the disputed polls, those picked alongside Mirihane were Stephen Jaoko (Secretary), Sonia Birdi (Treasurer), and Emmanuel Mwangi (Youth Affairs Secretary).

Aspirants clashed

“We have received complaints from various branches. These are just teething problems for our party,” said Nixon Korir, URP executive director.

Elections in Nakuru County were called off after supporters of councillor Joseph Bett and those of Joshua Rotich, who were contesting county chairmanship post clashed.

Ms Leah Ntimama, regional election commissioner, had to call police to restore order after non-delegates took part in the election.

“We realised after counting votes that 26 non-delegates had been allowed to take part in the election with Bett garnering 131 votes against Rotich’s 115,” Ntimama said.

Thomas Ngeno, Kipsigis County Council chairman was elected unopposed Kericho County branch chairman alongside his deputy Justice Kemei.

In Bomet County, delegates allied to Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto swept the board, as those associated with Konoin MP Julius Kones were defeated.

Unanimously elected

Dr Kones and Mr Ruto have been involved in a long-standing spat over running of the party. Both are eyeing Bomet County governor post.

Former Tenwek Mission Hospital CEO Steven Mutai was elected Bomet County chairman after defeating former assistant minister Raphael Kitur.

Former Konoin MP Sammy Koech was picked vice-chairman unopposed while Nicholas Kirui was elected county secretary.

Nairobi businessman Stephen Ngeno was picked in absentia Kuresoi North Constituency chairman defeating former assistant minister James Koskei.

“I believe this was democracy at work as the delegates unanimously elected me,” Ngeno said.