Africa-Press – Kenya. The United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a party associated with Deputy President William Ruto, has steered clear of appointing vocal leaders in its leadership team.
The party, which is a breakaway wing of the ruling Jubilee Party, has listed 31 persons as party officials. However, some of the big names that have been at the forefront of selling the DP’s State House ambition are conspicuously missing.
The party officials will be led by former Machakos Senator and a one-time Kalonzo Musyoka’s strongman, Johnstone Muthama who is the Chairman. He will be deputised by trade unionist and Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General, Seth Panyako.
Mr Ruto, who is seeking the country’s top seat and hopes to succeed his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, will task the party officials with the primary responsibility of ensuring the outfit’s agenda is steered forward.
A section of leaders who have been leading UDA planning meetings and campaigns and are viewed as his inner circle, have not made it to the list.
They include former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, economist David Ndii, political analyst Edward Kisiangani, and former Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale, have, however, not made it to the list of the Wheelbarrow party officials.
The party, however, in its appointment of officials, has brought on board seasoned but dejected politicians. The party has appointed one-time Teso South Member of Parliament Mary Emase as the Deputy Treasurer in charge of strategy.
It has also appointed the Kibaki-era-Minister for Agriculture, Kipruto Arap Kirwa, as the Deputy Chairman. He will now serve under Muthama.
Former Raila Odinga’s Campaign Manager and one-time Kibra Parliamentary candidate, Eliud Owalo, has been appointed the party’s Deputy Secretary General. He will now serve under Veronica Maina, who was appointed Secretary General.
The former Mugirango South Member of Parliament, Omingo Magara, who also served as the Executive Director of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), has been appointed as party’s National Treasurer.
Kacheliba Member of Parliament Mark Lemunokol has also been appointed as the party’s Secretary for Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations.
Vocal elected politicians, among them Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Mithika Linturi (Meru), Samson Cherangei (Nandi), Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi) and MPs – Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Kimani Ichungwah (Kikuyu), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira) and Purity Wangui Ngirici (Kirinyaga) – all steered clear of the party positions.
Here is the full list of UDA party officials as deposited with the office of the Registrar of Political Parties and as adopted from The Nation
Secretary General Veronica Nduati Maina.
