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Kenya: New Mt Kenya Political Parties Ruto’s Headache

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4 years ago

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The recent declaration by Deputy President William Ruto that he is not interested in joining or forming alliances ahead of next year’s general election seems to have laid bare an unseen ticking time bomb in his political camp. In an interview with NTV, he said his only ‘coalition’ or ‘alliance ‘was what he has directly with the voters.

That was not received well by two of his perceived pointmen in the vote-rich Mount Kenya region. The Service Party (TSP) leader Mwangi Kiunjuri and his Chama Cha Kazi counterpart Moses Kuria publicly disagreed with the DP.

Former CS Kiunjuri said every political leader needs a coalition to win elections and Gatundu South MP Kuria said that regional parties were vital to push for local development.

The DP’s statement seems to point in the direction of the decision in 2016 by 12 parties to merge into Jubilee Party. Having leaders elected under one party or a binding coalition has the advantage of enforcing discipline and averting premature political falling-out that could complicate the advancement of government agenda in Parliament.

Power-sharing

Political deals are negotiated in the form of power-sharing arrangements. The lion’s share goes to the party with the greatest might in terms of the number of votes expected to be delivered. Coalitions are formed and power shared among the players, which goes to the leadership of both Houses.

Among the well-known parties in the region are Narc-Kenya, Party of National Unity and Alliance Party of Kenya. TSP Chama cha Kazi, as well as Usawa kwa Wote party under Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria, are among the newest in the region.