A big political war has erupted in Kenya Kwanza as partner parties fight over zoning, threatening to hurt Deputy President William Ruto’s fortunes.
Some disgruntled affiliate parties have protested that they are being mistreated in the coalition by the ‘big boys’ who they lament are claiming “entitlement rights” within the alliance.
Kenya Kwanza comprises 14 political parties, including Ruto’s UDA, Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC and Moses Wetangula’s Ford Kenya as principal partners.
It has emerged that beneath the political facade exhibited by the KK team, there is an internal war over many issues, including inclusion in presidential campaign resources.
UDA bigwigs remained cagey on Wednesday when confronted with the concerns, with Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, a key Ruto ally, claiming he was not aware.
“I have not heard that. I need to check,” Nyoro told the Star.
Director general of Ruto’s presidential campaign Josephat Nanok had promised to speak to us, but had not done so at the time of going to press.
There are concerns that UDA, Ford Kenya and ANC are receiving preferential treatment in the coalition in the running and coordination of campaign funds running into millions of shillings.
In what could further fuel suspicion and discontent in the coalition, there are reports that only a few individuals are entitled to choppers acquired for the presidential campaigns.
Multiple sources told the Star that key party leaders from affiliates and their officials are being forced to defray expenses incurred during the campaigns instead of using the money from the campaign kitty.
There is also a ban on spending nights outside Nairobi while on the campaign trail.
“For those who manage to fly, they must return. There is no provision for accommodation, except for a few special people,” an insider who did not want to go on record said.
The DP’s presidential campaign team is said to have leased at least nine choppers in the recent past that are ferrying campaign teams in the battle for votes against Raila’s Azimio La Umoja coalition.
Ruto’s UDA is also being accused of contravening the KK coalition agreement by zoning some regions as the party’s strongholds with other parties being edged out.
At the Coast on Wednesday, Ruto openly endorsed Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa as the Kenya Kwanza aspirant for Kilifi governor to the chagrin of Pamoja Africa Alliance brigade.
Lawyer George Kithi is PAA’s aspirant for the seat.
Reached for a comment, TSP leader Mwangi Kiunjuri warned the ongoing “bullying” in Kenya Kwanza was creating disgruntlement that could hurt Ruto’s presidential votes.
“It is demeaning and humiliating when a senior member bullies other parties because of some entitlement….that way we lose the meaning of a coalition,” Kiunjuri said.
There has been chaos in the campaign trail as aspirants from other KK partner parties protest being locked out from addressing supporters while in the campaign trail.
In Western Kenya, some ANC and Ford Kenya aspirants have asked the DP to keep off grassroots campaigns, terming his endorsements partisan.
The same has been witnessed in Kilifi where UDA is battling with Governor Amason Kingi’s PAA aspirants.
The wave of discontent is growing largely in the DP’s Mt Kenya strongholds, where at least nine political parties with roots from the region inked a pact with KK to support Ruto’s presidency.
The small parties from Mt Kenya have fielded aspirants in all the elective seats except the presidency.
The parties include Justin Muturi’s Democratic Party, Moses Kuria’s Chama Cha Kazi, the Communist Party of Kenya and Kiunjuri’s TSP.
Others are William Kabogo’s Tujibebe Party, Farmers Party, Devolution Party of Kenya, Economic Freedom Party and Martin Wambora’s Umoja na Maendeleo Party.
The DP and his allies have been openly campaigning for UDA aspirants during their rallies and pushing for a six-piece vote.
This has angered other aspirants within the coalition flying flags of partner parties.
Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, who is Ruto’s running mate, has been strongly campaigning for UDA aspirants, asking voters to ignore the fringe parties.
“As your representative in Ruto’s government, I need loyal soldiers with whom I will fight for your interests. I pray that you [elect] only United Democratic Alliance aspirants,” he said while campaigning in Karatina last week.
In Mt Kenya and Rift Valley, Ruto has openly told voters to elect UDA aspirants, disadvantaging other affiliate party aspirants in the same region seen as his major stronghold.
Kiunjuri said it was important for Kenya Kwanza to work as a team by building internal democracy and fair competition or risk losing the election to Azimio presidential hopeful Raila Odinga.
“Free and fair competition among siblings in the Kenya Kwanza is what will mobilise voters,” Kiunjuri said.
Apart from the UDA leader endorsing his own aspirants, there is also growing discontent over the coordination of the presidential campaigns.
There are concerns that the regional presidential campaign teams picked by Ruto on May 16 are amorphous without clear team leaders, fuelling confusion, especially in Central Kenya.
The DP picked at least nine politicians from Central Kenya to lead the charge for him, but did not clearly state the person charged with leading the whole team, leaving a major gap triggering squabbles.
Those named include Governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), as well as MPs Alice Wahome (Kandara) and Kikuyu’s Kimani Ichung’wah.
Others are Kiunjuri, former Kiambu governor Kabogo, Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau and Patrick Mariru.
“We need to see a clear team leader. You can’t group together [leaders] without someone with the powers to be called to account,” another party official who sought anonymity said.
He added that the ensuing gap has created campaign loopholes that do not provide synergy and proper collaboration to efficiently lead Ruto’s presidential campaign drive.
Farmers Party leader Irungu Nyakera, who is also running for the Murang’a governor’s seat, said the calls by UDA leaders for a six-piece suit vote in Mt Kenya was creating cracks within Kenya Kwanza.
The official asked UDA to embrace fair competition and allow other partner parties to campaign for their candidates freely without intimidation in accordance with the Kenya Kwanza coalition agreement.
“During negotiations, we agreed that we will be equal partners and all candidates will be treated in the same manner. This is utmost deceit and conmanship and must be looked at before it is too late,” Nyakera said.
Nyakera warned that if Ruto and other Kenya Kwanza Alliance principals do not address the issue urgently and foster unity, there would be massive voter apathy that will hurt the presidential vote.
But Kenya Kwanza is said to be working on opinion polls that will identify strong aspirants for various seats in the country.
Others will then be asked to step down to strengthen KK chances against Azimio and also address sibling rivalries.
Veronica Maina, the UDA secretary general, said there are negotiations “to come up with a common contest plan for mutual benefit.”
Gitau said the Kenya Kwanza team has an elaborate campaign plan driven by strategy to ensure the coalition wins as many seats as possible.
“We are working harmoniously with all the Kenya Kwanza partners with the sole aim of not only winning this presidential election but also capturing a good number of seats in Parliament and county assemblies,” Gitau said. BY THE STAR