Jubilee and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have reportedly hatched a plan to lock out Deputy President William Ruto’s allies in grassroots elections.
The parties, in preparations for the upcoming elections, have imposed tough conditions to tame rebels from taking over the leadership of the parties.
The two biggest political parties by membership and wealth, have restricted participation in impending grassroots elections, drawing a clear line who will be allowed to vie for any leadership position in the party.
There are reports that the two parties are hatching plans to ensure only ardent party loyalists will spearhead a 2022 pre-election coalition.
The ruling party, which is facing a power struggle between its two top leaders (President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto), has made it clear that members facing corruption cases and those of ‘questionable integrity’ will not be allowed to vie for party positions.
Jubilee’s grassroots elections, which will be conducted early in 2021, according to Secretary-General Raphael Tuju, is the next battleground for the two warring factions in the ruling party.
Tuju also said that rebels would require National Executive Committee (NEC) clearance to vie for party position, something that has been opposed by DP Ruto’s allies.
ODM, on its part, has announced that only vacant positions will be filled during upcoming party polls.
According to Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, the party will judge the character and the loyalty of any member seeking to fill the vacant positions.
The party also has rebels openly supporting deputy president’s 2022 presidential ambition, while undermining their party leader Odinga’s political cause.
“For purposes of clarity, what we will be doing is harmonization to fill in existing gaps left by those who died or defected.
“The party has elections and nomination rules that set out the criteria for the positions. Our members will be allowed to judge the propriety of those so-called renegades to hold party offices,” Sifuna said.
