As the 2022 General Election beckons, small parties have emerged in the Rift Valley that could give the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) significant competition.
The region is regarded as Deputy President William Ruto’s political bastion, but the fringe parties have heightened their activities as they angle for seats that were hitherto thought to be the preserve of his UDA party.
As political realignments gather momentum, three political parties have sprung up. They are the Movement United for Super Action (Musa) Party of Kenya, launched a few months ago in Nakuru, the Ubuntu People’s Forum (UPF), linked to Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, and the Kenya United Party (KUP), unveiled last month by West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo.
The three, alongside Kanu, led by Gideon Moi, and Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM), led by former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, are already positioning themselves as alternative parties.
Others include the United Green Movement (UGM), associated with former Ndhiwa MP Agostino Neto, and the National Vision Party, associated with former powerful Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwott.
Already, UDA is beginning to feel the pressure from the small parties that have resisted the push to dissolve. They have stormed the political scene, jostling to reap from the falling-out between President Kenyatta and DP Ruto.
The DP and his allies have been championing a ‘six-piece’ voting pattern, urging residents to vote for UDA candidates only, from the ward to the national level. However, the fear of crowded and bungled primaries has partly fuelled the formation of the fringe parties, which, according to political pundits, will hugely benefit from UDA’s post-nomination defections.
“The main reason [small] parties like the Isaac Ruto-led CCM have decided not to fold is that they want to benefit from the defections galore that will be witnessed ahead of the 2022 polls.” says lawyer and political analyst Steve Kabita.
In Nakuru, the UPF, led by Mr Kinyanjui, has embarked on mass recruitment of members and is expected to alter the political equation in the vote-rich region and provide a safe landing for aspirants from the big political parties.
Mr Neto’s UGM has also initiated massive recruitment in Nakuru and other parts of the county, spearheaded by its county chairman, Mr Ben Omwandho.
“The UGM is a strong party with a national outlook,” Mr Omwandho says.
Also seeking a share of the pie is Musa party, which was unveiled by youthful politician and 2017 Nakuru Town West MP aspirant Victor Ngatia, says it will advocate social justice for all.
“We’re a party founded on the principle of anti-corruption and anyone found guilty of corruption will never be a member of Musa,” Mr Ngatia says.
Kanu is also spoiling for a fight with UDA. It plans to field candidates to face off against UDA’s in ward, parliamentary and gubernatorial races.
“We now have a flag-bearer and want to ensure he succeeds President Uhuru Kenyatta,” Secretary-general Nick Salat said.
Former Bomet Governor Ruto early this year vowed to support DP Ruto but declined to fold his CCM through which he seeks to reclaim the seat he lost in 2017.
“KUP believes in the household economy as that is the basis of development [and] in empowerment of women, the youth and people with disability,” party leader Prof Lonyangapuo says.
