Smaller parties in the Rift laying strategies for negotiating power

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The Rift Valley region is expected to be the focal point in President Uhuru Kenyatta succession matrix as it forms the backyard of Deputy President William Ruto.

The region was key to Uhuru’s election and re-election in 2013 and 2017. 

Ruto, who has fallen out with his boss, has shifted allegiance from the Jubilee Party to United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a party he has promoted and on whose ticket he plans to vie for State House next year.

He has taken with him a chunk of the Jubilee support in the region triggering the formation of new political parties and rebranding of old ones.

The political fallout between Uhuru and Ruto and the endorsement of Senator Gideon Moi as the Kanu flag bearer in the 2022 presidential race have unsettled the region.

While Ruto’s UDA will be the party to watch in Rift Valley, a number of senior politicians have in the recent past either formed new political parties or rebranded old ones, partly to strengthen their negotiating power.

Among the new entrants is Ubuntu Peoples Forum (UPF), which was rebranded from Citizens Convention Party (CCP) after Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s allies took it over last month.

Kinyanjui said that the party aims at putting Nakuru County at the negotiation table in the formation of the next government.

 Kinya Rukahu, the UPF party leader said that the party is ready to face others with a view of changing the region’s political landscape.

“Competition is good and we are ready for it,” he said.

“We shall officially launch the party later this year during which we shall declare our political road map in the county and beyond.”

He added that other older parties had not managed to live up to the expectations of the people in and out of government.

Spirit of Ubuntu

“We want to live up to the spirit of Ubuntu which is about Panafricanism.

“We want to bring our people together before anything else as the party spreads its wings in Nakuru and nationally,” he said.

West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo has also shifted base to Kenya Union Party (KUP), which, he says, will champion the interests of pastoralist communities.

“We shall work with other like-minded parties which shall have our community’s interests as part of their manifesto,” said Lonyangapuo during its launch recently.

“We are not bothered by the presidential candidates at the moment.”

However, Senate Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio has slammed the formation of KUP, claiming that the move will sideline Pokot community from national jobs.

Poghisio said the party is “too local”, noting it only has a presence within the county as does its top officials.

“I am telling locals to desist from joining the party because it won’t take them anywhere,” the West Pokot Senator said.

“I have been in Kanu since 2017. If KUP decides to join Kanu, I will support them, but I won’t join such a small party.”

Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has also stuck to his Chama cha Mashinani even though he is supporting the DP’s presidential bid as he seeks to recapture his seat.

Caused ripples

“We have decided to work together so that you (DP Ruto) succeed in your quest in 2022 and also unite the region. I will also go for the gubernatorial post,” he recently told the DP.

The New Democrats (TND) also caused ripples by defeating Jubilee and UDA in last year’s Lakeview Ward by-election.

Its chair, Dr Thuo Mathenge said that they will have a keen interest in Rift Valley politics.

“We won the Lakeview seat in Naivasha. Our candidate was second in Huruma Ward in Eldoret.”

“In 2022, we shall field candidates for all positions in all Rift Valley counties,” said Mathenge.

He added the party, whose deputy party leader is Jimmy Kibaki, will not enter into a pre-election agreement with other parties.

TND currently has 13 elected ward representatives and one MP.

However, political analyst Prof Gitile Naituli says shambolic party primaries in previous elections, which brought the political careers of many to an end, is the real reason politicians are unveiling new parties or rebranding those already registered.

“The formation of new political parties and rebranding of the old ones by some politicians is out of fear of being rigged out in the party primaries.”

“Most of them fear being locked out at the early stages of the electioneering,” said Naituli.