This archive report was first published on 28 June 2021.
June 28, 2021 - A power struggle is brewing within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as aspirants eye party tickets ahead of the 2022 General Election.
According to a source within UDA's secretariat, the party associated with Deputy President William Ruto is being driven by sitting lawmakers who are jostling for party positions to guarantee them nomination certificates.
The source claimed that the MPs have put their loyalists in place as constituency and ward coordinators to gain contacts from the public and create grassroots networks. However, these coordinators are being accused of frustrating aspirants in different counties.
Despite the party's leadership assuring members that they will conduct party grassroots elections, the source alleged that all indications are that UDA officials might eventually be people proposed by sitting legislators through boardroom deals, using their closeness to the DP and the party secretariat.
Aspirants in various counties are now mulling decamping to smaller parties as a plan B should they be locked out of UDA.
"If UDA does not put its house in order, it will suffer the same fate that Jubilee Party and ODM have been suffering. It will just be another vehicle for transporting leaders into office," said the source.
However, UDA Communications Director Wanjohi Githae dismissed the claims, saying that the party's popularity among aspirants is an indication that the party is doing something right.
"UDA is like a beautiful woman that everyone wants to be associated with. The interest and competition for positions shows that the party is popular and there is democracy," Mr Githae said.
