By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- Some days earlier, the media reported that the DP had scored big. This after a meeting of UDA National Executive Committee (NEC) chaired by President William Ruto at State House Nairobi agreed to amend the party constitution and remove the contested clause of three deputy party leaders.
- The meeting was held at a time when the ruling party was holding the grassroots elections.
- From onset, the ultimate goal of President Ruto was to build a strong party that becomes a beacon of democracy not only in Kenya, Africa but the world at large.
- According to Gachagua team, the contested clause had been sneaked by DP’s political enemies. This was a well calculated plot to clip his political wings.
A few days ago, Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua ignited the debate on one-man-one vote-one-shilling.
Speaking at a church event in Embu, he minced no word in stating: I have all along been a key proponent of revenue sharing based on population. Resources are about the people.
Gachagua have since stood his ground despite facing a strong opposition from some communities and a section of politicians in Kenya Kwanza government.
I don’t mind being called tribalist. The resources are shared by the people. So, the talk of geographical area or one-man-one-kilometre is diversionary and does not add up.
ODM leader Raila Odinga has since thrown his full weight behind Gachagua.
Speaking when he hosted the organisers of Limuru 111 at Orange House in Nairobi, he stated that he fully supported the debate on one-man one-vote- one-shilling.
My move is not populist. As you are aware, I was a key proponent of the concept and hence this was one of the key proposals in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
In Limuru 111, the delegates also reaffirmed it.
What lesson did we learn from Raila’s latest move? In politics, there are no permanent enemies or permanent friends. The interest is what matters.
It is worth noting Raila spoke one day after the Government of Kenya formally endorsed his candidature for African Union top job.
He had earlier said that even if he get this job he will continue to be active in local politics.
This showed he was ready to walk the talk President.
Some days earlier, the media reported that the DP had scored big. This after a meeting of UDA National Executive Committee (NEC) chaired by President William Ruto at State House Nairobi agreed to amend the party constitution and remove the contested clause of three deputy party leaders.
The meeting was held at a time when the ruling party was holding the grassroots elections.
From onset, the ultimate goal of President Ruto was to build a strong party that becomes a beacon of democracy not only in Kenya, Africa but the world at large.
According to Gachagua team, the contested clause had been sneaked by DP’s political enemies.
This was a well calculated plot to clip his political wings.
The State House meeting resolved the new clause should read. There shall be one party leader (the President) and one deputy party leader (the deputy president).
One thing however remained clear. The slots of other two deputy leaders were replaced by the two assistant deputy leaders. So, it means it is only the power of holders which will be reduced.
The President is said to have noted. The final decision will be made by party members who will attend the national delegates’ conference (NDC).
Earlier reports indicated that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was leaving nothing to chance in his bid to plant his loyalists to the positions that were being contested.
One can understand where he is coming from.
As the second in command he believes he is just a heart-beat away from becoming the President of this country.
For this reason, he has to use all means to defend his territory.
This brings me to the question. Does he stand a chance of having his way?
I know one of his key strategies is to follow the footsteps of the current President William Ruto.
As we know, Dr Ruto, then deputy president, started to lay his political foundation during the first term of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He was however more strategic. He would take advantage of Uhuru’s absence and visit all parts of the country to represent him. This was during the launch and commissioning of mega development projects.
He would take advantage of this to front himself as the best suited candidate to succeed President Kenyatta.
As a result, Dr Ruto managed to build political stamina. Come the second term, he had enough foot soldiers. So he would not fear taking on his boss head-on.
Reports have indicated that Gachagua is fronting Embakasi MP James Gakuya to take up the position of Nairobi UDA chairmanship as opposed to Governor Johnson Sakaja.
The media report suggested that he had hatched a plot to stop Sakaja from voting.
As stipulated in the constitution of UDA, the delegates will undertake two major activities. One, election of 39 new national office bearers.
During NDC, I would also expect a proposal seeking to fast-track and entrench the two-thirds gender rule to come up.
When he flouted this proposal, President William Ruto, who is the party leader, stated. A time has come for the UDA to live up to our word.
During the campaigns we promised to implement the constitutional imperative of two-thirds gender rule to the letter and spirit.
Going by latest development, the talk that Mudavadi was being favored by President William Ruto does not hold any water.
The President has been reprimanding and distancing himself from the leaders engaging in succession politics. I have no time for these premature and empty debates. My eyes and ears are trained on fulfilling the pledges I made during the campaign, he once said during a development tour of Western Kenya.
He was responding to claims by Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale that he will pass the baton to Mudavadi in 2032.
The President reiterated this position during his recent development tour of Kikuyu land in Mountain. I’m not here to do politics. I’m here to launch and commission development projects which will transform the lives of our people in a big way.
In Mount Kenya, the allies of Deputy President are also following and monitoring closely the political activities of Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro. They believe that the two poses a threat to DP bid for Mount Kenya kingpin and riding on this wave to succeed Dr Ruto in 2032.
If the DP loses the kingship, this will cost him dearly. The prerogative of picking a running mate squarely lies with the President.
So, if that happened, Dr Ruto was likely to drop him and pick Ndindi or Waiguru.
The latter would stand a high chance if the proposal to create a male-female lineup sails through.
In 2022, the mountain voted as a bloc for President Ruto. Dr Ruto’s prayer and wish is to rally this region behind him in 2027 polls.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a Writer and Political Analyst based in Nairobi
