Saturday, January 26, 2013

Controversy rocks URP over party list



FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013 - 00:00
 -- BY DAVID MWERE
Controversy has rocked URP over its party nominees as political parties rush to beat the deadline for submission of candidates to the electoral commission.
Influential URP individuals are said to be plotting to amend the list from its original version to suit their “own interests.” Already the selection panel mandated to draw the party's list containing individuals for nomination slots to the National Assembly and the Senate has been instructed to make the alterations.
At the centre of this war is Nairobi businessman Samuel Mburu whose name was number one on the list drawn earlier. Some party leaders now want his position swapped with Leah Supuko Naikana who is number five on the list.
With the close of business for the submission of party lists set for today at 5pm, they have been mandated to expedite the changes. The individuals were yesterday expected to go through the list after accompanying URP party leader William Ruto from a public rally in Marsabit county.
If the changes are effected, Mburu stands little chance of getting the nomination. The Elections Act of 2011 provides that the nominated members’ lists must be arranged in ascending order.
This means, those whose names come first will be given first priority. Naikana is the daughter to Heritage minister William Ole Ntimama and has severally differed with her father politically.
He father is an ODM senior political figure in the rift valley region and is also seen as the voice of the Maasai community in ODM. Naikana, a URP activist, has been the party's commissioner in charge of rift valley region in the concluded party nominations. She is currently popularizing the party in Maasai land.
Mburu was influential in the formation of a lobby group, masufferer na Ruto before being incorporated in William Ruto's presidential campaign. Ruto later stood down his ambitions to become Uhuru Kenyatta's running mate in the Jubilee alliance.
He has also been involved in URP campaigns countrywide, a feet that insiders claim could have largely catapulted his political rise. As of yesterday, URP's secretary general Davis Chirchirr and the national elections board chairman Nyule Ngumbao had been given orders to amend the list.
When contacted, Ngumbao denied that there was any controversy over the part list. “We are currently preparing the list and we expect by the end of today (yesterday) we will have finalized,” said Ngumbao.
Even as he denied the differences, the selection panel was sharply divided over the influence of URP leaders. A section of the panel has resisted to effect the changes before the list is submitted to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), saying “the changes will not auger well.”
Some members have vowed not to cooperate and are determined to file their dissatisfactions with the IEBC if the party bosses have their way.
Although the law requires that the lists submitted must respect the Zebra Principle- that they must alternate between male and female nominees, the panel claim that the list has too many Women nominees.
One of the officials has claimed that the registrar of political parties has assured him that it is not a big deal “as it will help in addressing the gender issue”.
However, the registrar of parties Lucy Ndungu denied offering such legal assurances. “The law is very clear and I believe it doesn't need any other interpretation. Parties must act within the confines of the law,” said Ndungu.
Other suspect inclusions in the list include Adow Amran Duale from Mandera county. Adow, one of the URP founder members is outgoing MP Aden Duale's brother.
He is among the individuals who resigned to pave way for Francis Ole Kaparo group when the party was applying for registration. His nomination could be an act of favoritism as his brother is a regarded as the voice of the party in the North eastern region.
Susan Omanga is number two on the list. She had ambitions for Senate Nairobi county but stood down. Her inclusion is suspect as she has been mentioned as the running mate to TNA Nairobi governor aspirant Ferdinand Waititu in the spirit of Jubilee coalition.
Others on the list include, Rose Gaati from Migori county, Florence Jematiah- Nairobi, Mohammed Amin- Wajir county, Mohammed Salat- Mandera county and Benard Koech- Elgeyo Marakwet, representing the disabled, among others.
The electoral body will designate the seats each political party will nominate within 30 days of declaring the results based on the percentage seats won by the political parties or coalitions.
The parties’ lists will be valid for the duration of the term of parliament. Should an individual cease being a member of the party or a coalition by death, resignation, expulsion or change of party, the IEBC will allocate the seat to the next ranking member from the list.
For instance, while there are to be 2 slots for special groups, parties nominate 4 each. The extra two each, are for any eventuality. Members to be nominated must have been party or coalition members for at least three months.

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