Mudavadi's ANC party concludes first phase of grassroots polls

 

Musalia Mudavadi's Amani National Congress (ANC) party has concluded the first phase of its grassroots elections in readiness for the 2022 polls.

The party successfully elected new officials in 27 of the 47 counties and is now preparing to pick new national officials.

“Let us not lie to ourselves. We want to be at State House. Do not sit at home, go out there and sell our agenda as you get more members on board,” ANC Elections Board chair Salim Busaidy told the new branch officials.

Elections were held in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta, Meru, Embu, Kitui, Machakos, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Kiambu, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Baringo, Laikipia, Kajiado, Kericho, Bomet, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia, Migori, Kisii and Nyamira.

Elections in the remaining 20 counties will be conducted between 15 August and 15 September 2021.

ANC has often been accused of having a tribal outlook in its national officials.

Some national officials have promised to surrender their positions to members from regions outside western Kenya.

Mudavadi, who has maintained that his name will be on the ballot next year, noted that the grassroots elections were conducted under “extremely difficult circumstances.”

“There was a lot of consensus-building where possible and in other circumstances, we opted for e-voting. I am glad it was successful. Most political parties have literally abandoned grassroot elections,” he said.

Speaking at a Nairobi hotel when he received a report on the elections, the ANC party leader asked new officials to quickly familiarise themselves with IEBC deadlines as they prepare the party for 2022 polls.

“Nasa is dead and we are now thinking about new partnerships which must be informed by the prevailing dynamics in the political scene,” he added.

Mudavadi said the recommendations of the report should be treated as a matter of urgency with the respective party organs.

“We need to embark on harmonization of various sections of our party constitution. We also need to harmonise the nomination fees,” he stated.

Mudavadi further asked the new officials to be “fishers of men when they return to the ground.”

“Let us not wait. Get strong candidates and link them with the national secretariat. Also, go out there and popularise our agenda of improving the economy and fighting corruption,” he added.

In April, a section of ANC party supporters from the North rift Region called on the party to conduct fresh elections of new officials from the grassroots to the national level.

They said it was only through the election of new officials that the party will have leadership with a national outlook.

Juma Ryan Wango said there was no way Mudavadi will win the presidency with the current party officials still holding their positions.

Pamela Rahunga observed that ANC had a tribal outlook in its national officials.

She said the party lacked the face of Kenya at the national level noting that it was prudent to incorporate people from other regions in the leadership of the party.      BY THE STAR