Ruling UDA torn by internal war, uneasy alliances

The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is torn by internal strife and its leaders are embroiled in multifaceted battles that could kill the party.

At the top, the party leader, President William Ruto is at war with his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

Its former Secretary General Cleophas Malala is in court seeking to overturn the decision to kick him out of the position in August.

The wheelbarrow party is also at a crossroads whether or not to go back to the abandoned grassroots elections after initiating merger talks with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi's Amani National Congress (ANC).

Four days ago, party officials led by Secretary General Hassan Omar and chairperson Cecily Mbarire met university students to launch a comrade chapter which Omar said will be 'a legitimate and popular organ of the UDA PARTY' going forward.

"This initiative is a first in Kenya's political landscape where students can engage directly with the ruling party, aiming to have the voices of the young people heard and valued. Out of the young people who will air their voices on the taskforce on education financing model, 14 will come from the launched chapter," Mbarire said.

Last month, while announcing Omar's appointment as Malala's replacement, the party announced that it would embark on the abandoned grassroots elections.

"We have directed the National Elections Board to make necessary adjustments and continue with the elections in the rest of the counties as earlier communicated. These elections will ultimately offer the members of the party an opportunity to choose their leaders from the polling center all the way to the national level," the NEC statement said.

Ironically, in June, UDA and ANC agreed to merge and a joint committee formed to look for a name, symbol and colour of a new party that will be used as a special purpose vehicle for President William Ruto's reelection campaign.

After the June meeting, ANC leaders later met on August 3 where they officially approved a merger with UDA in a meeting hosted by caretaker party leader, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy.

Timammy was granted authority to lead, coordinate and oversee the implementation and completion of the merger.

"Time is of the essence," Timamy said, underscoring the urgency and importance of the merger.

This is despite the millions of shillings that candidates contributed to the party to be allowed to contest for various positions from polling station, ward level, Constituency and County elections that attracted over 190,000 candidates.

County officials were required to pay Sh10,000 to be eligible to vie, while a constituency delegate was required to contribute Sh2,000. Officials for the Constituency position paid Sh5,000 to the party.

At the Ward level, candidates were required to pay Sh1,000, while at the polling station level they were required to pay Sh200. To be registered as a delegate, one was required to pay Sh2,000.

While the merger process is going on, UDA is facing a new challenge triggered by the new partnership between President Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga that opened doors for the opposition party's men join the government as Cabinet Secretaries.

There is speculation of a possible 2027 election pact between ODM and UDA, which could upset the planned merger between the latter and ANC.

As the confusion in UDA rages, there is emergence of factions with MPs who are sympathetic to Gachagua threatening to withhold their monthly contributions.

The threat of an impeachment motion against Gachagua has exacerbated the division, with the MPs reading from different scripts.

Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru says the future of the party hangs in the balance.

"Which ruling party holds a meeting before 5am just to evade being served court orders? They have postponed the grassroots elections despite candidates investing millions but they don't care. Members are losing taste of the party day by day," the MP said.

He said unless the National Executive Council (NEC) which is headed by the President sits and provides direction, the party has no future.

"Why can't they run the party professionally like the way ODM is run? With the current situation, which delegate can turn out to participate in the so-called grassroots elections which is a total mess?" posed Gathiru.

However, party Treasurer, Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Nyakundi, maintained that UDA is vibrant and ready to go back to the grassroots elections.

Asked about the essence of the grassroots elections at a time when the proposed merger between UDA and ANC will introduce a new political trajectory, Nyakundi maintained that 'there was a merger but UDA would remain' further complicating the situation.

"We shall come up with a strategy to incorporate our brothers from ANC as we move forward. We are in the final stages of the merger," Nkakundi said.