By: Charles Muriithi
Worth Noting:
- Muturi, a lawyer by profession and former Embu’s Siakago constituency Member of Parliament is expected to be endorsed as the party’s flagbear.
- Apart from Muturi, the party is expecting to field candidates for various political seats that are up for grabs once the elections are called.
- Already dozens of leaders from all parts of the country have expressed their wish to contest some seats under the sponsorship of DP.
- Political leaders are attracted to join DP due to among other reasons, it calibre of its top leadership.
- The party draws its leadership from the length and breadth of the country. Virtually every part of this country is ably represented in the party’s top leadership.
Democratic Party of Kenya (DP) remains one of the original political parties that have weathered the storm.
DP is one of the parties that remain vibrant as others fold to form coalitions.
Its leadership has remained steadfast and continuously clear that democracy does not in any way mean doing killing the already established political parties for new ones.
When Kibaki contested the presidency for the third time which he won, he joined hands with then leader of FORD Kenya, the late Kijana Wamalwa and Narc’s Charity Ngilu.
In their coalition, they didn’t call for the disbandment of their parties. Instead, the formed a coalition that left their parties intact.
The 2002 coalition among the three was few weeks later joined by disgruntled leaders who defected from the then ruling party, Kanu.
This group led by current Opposition leader Raila Odinga, just like Kibaki, Wamalwa and Ngilu formed a coalition that didn’t equally call for dissolution of the original parties.
However, a coalition formed in 2012 saw majority of political parties dissolved. But the DP leadership led by former Kibaki’s Security matters advisor Essau Kioni weathered calls for its dissolution.
The party through its National Delegates Conference (NDC) resolved not to dissolve but ratified its support for President Uhuru Kenyatta who was seeking a second and final constitutional term as the president.
Since then, the party has undergone transformation with various leaders joining it.
In 2013 and 2017, the party didn’t present to Kenyans any presidential candidate.
However, in this year’s General Election, the party is presenting National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as its candidate.
This is the second person to ever represent the party as its highest office in the country aspirant.
Muturi, a lawyer by profession and former Embu’s Siakago constituency Member of Parliament is expected to be endorsed as the party’s flagbear.
Apart from Muturi, the party is expecting to field candidates for various political seats that are up for grabs once the elections are called.
Already dozens of leaders from all parts of the country have expressed their wish to contest some seats under the sponsorship of DP.
Political leaders are attracted to join DP due to among other reasons, it calibre of its top leadership.
The party draws its leadership from the length and breadth of the country. Virtually every part of this country is ably represented in the party’s top leadership.
Whereas the party chairman Essau Kioni hails from Kibaki’s Othaya constituency, its Secretary General, Dr Jacob Hajji comes from the Northern part of the country in Mandera County. Dr Hajji joined the party as a youth and has been steadfast in his support; an issue that have seen him rise to the position of the secretary General.
Its Party Leader is Joseph Munyao, a longtime ally of retired president who also served as a Cabinet Minister in his administration.
The party has also tapped several brainy people like Dr Karau to be party of its leaders. Dr Karau, a strategist is the Deputy party leader in charge of strategies.
Due to its diverse leadership, the party has attracted different leaders who are eying various political seats during the forthcoming General Election. These include former presidential advisor Prof. Kagwanja who is seeking to be the third senator for Murang’a County.