UDM rebrands, embarks on grassroots recruitment

By Vitalis Kimutai

The United Democratic Movement (UDM) party has changed its colours and symbol in an elaborate re-branding scheme.

The party has also kicked off grassroots recruitment drive to comply with the Political Parties Act 2011 ahead of the next General Election.

Last Thursday, senior UDM officials during a meeting attended by 15 Members of Parliament from various political parties at its Nairobi offices unveiled the new party symbol.

"We laid out a road map that would ensure that the party is entrenched at the grassroots in all the 47 counties," the party national chairman Joseph Chirchir said in an interview.

The milk can that was the party’s symbol was retained but two African horns (trumpet - Kudusela (not Vuvusela) in South Africa) has been placed on either side.

"Most communities and stakeholders who support the party felt that the portability of the milk can was an issue thus the modification that has been done," Mr Chirchir said.

The party’s Secretary General Martin Kamwaro said a trumpet was not only portable but had also been used for generations as a traditional mode of convening meetings and celebrations.

Mid this year, a committee of nine officials was formed to address the party symbol that led to a series of consultative forums and collection of views from party members and supporters.

"The changes were adopted by the National Executive Council members before being forwarded to the Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u who has ratified it," UDM Director of elections Moses Cheboi, said.

The party has also shed its old colours – green, milk white and sky blue – and adopted yellow as the main colour with a white strip and green.

"Yellow represents liberation, green stands for environment, while white is a sign of peace that we want," Mr Yusuf Abdi, the party treasurer said.

Increased support

Ms Millicent Nyaboge, one of the vice-chairpersons said the party slogan had also been changed to Sauti Ya Vitendo from the previous Afya, Haki, Maendeleo kwa Yote.

"We wanted a slogan that would be easy and rings a bell in the people across the country thus the short one that has been adopted," Nyaboge said.

Mr Jaffana Mokhu a vice-chairman said that the recruitment drive would be carried out across the country until December 14 and regional offices would be opened.

"After the recruitment drive, we will meet and lay out the modalities for the grassroots elections, which tentatively has been set for January next year followed by national elections," Mokhu said.

Among the MPs who attended the meeting were – William Ruto, Aden Duale, Hellen Sambili, Isaac Ruto, Benjamin Langat, Luka Kigen, Gonzi Rai, Mohamed Muhamud, Moses Lessonet, Cyrus Jirongo, Asman Kamama, Ekwe Ethuro, Charles Keter, Kazungu Kambi, Zakayo Cheruiyot, former Speaker of the National Assembly Francis ole Kaparo, former MP Omingo Magara and ALGAK chairman Turaiya ole Kores. Turkana Central MP Ethuro was optimistic that UDM would form the next government due to increased grassroots support.

"Pastoralists would support UDM in the next General Election because it is focused on enhancing food security and stamping out insecurity," he said.

Mr Kamama concurred with Ethuro and said that UDM was the party to watch in the next election, as more prominent leaders would be joining.

Mr Kambi said residents of the Coast, Eastern and North Eastern regions were joining the party in big numbers. He said election of several UDM civic leaders in recent by-elections was a testimony of the confidence people had in the party.

UDM now has 17 councillors across.

Prof Sambili who was East African Co-operation Minister was sacked from the Cabinet recently alongside William Ruto and Aden Duale. "We are working on the manifesto of the party and the nomination rules which we would unveil at a later stage," Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto said.

During the Thursday meeting, it was agreed that those interested in party positions at the national and grassroots level would fight it out with others.

"No position would be a preserve of any of the incumbent leaders, MPs, or civic leaders. Whoever is interested in a position has to go out and convince members that he/she merits it and the ballot would decide who the victor would be," Ruto (Chepalungu) said.

There have been fears in the recent past that some positions had been preserved for prominent leaders like Ruto, Kaparo and Mwakwere.

Campaigns

"The feeling among the people is that UDM is the fastest growing party unlike the others which have been used by leaders for personal grandiose," Ruto said.

Ruto and Kigen revealed that MPs who have been branded as rebels in ODM following their association with UDM would not be participating in grassroots and national elections of either of the parties.

William Ruto has indicated that he would contest the Presidency in the next General Election on the party’s ticket and has been campaigning across the country this year.

Revitalisation of the party has started in earnest even as a case filed by Lieutenant General (rtd) John Koech who was ousted and replaced by former Kenya National Union of Teachers chairman Joseph Chirchir is still pending in court.

Koech has stated that he was still in charge of the party and that his alleged ouster was null and void as it was against the UDM constitution.

He said claims that he was a public officer who should not hold a political party office was misplaced and selective because there are several officials in UDM who are serving in government.

"Am in charge of UDM and I am going to contest the Presidency in the party’s ticket," Koech said recently.

Koech went to court seeking to restrain UDM officials from holding any elections to replace him as the chairman.