All set for UDA National Delegates Convention, Ruto to be unveiled as flagbearer

 Over 5000 UDA party delegates are set to endorse Deputy President William Ruto’s State House bid on Tuesday at the Kasaraani Gymnasium in line with the party’s Constitution.

The event set to mark the formal end of his tenure at the Jubilee Party where he served as deputy party leader before being replaced at its NDC last month.

At the Kasarani Gymnasium, workers and party officials were on Monday sprucing up the indoor arena ahead of what they term a historic event for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as it holds its first-ever National Delegates Conference.

 At the conference, DP Ruto will be officially nominated as the party's presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections. UDA leaders who had toured the venue said they were ready to host the over 5000 delegates.

“Tomorrow’s event is not a political rally. It is the highest party decision-making meeting we expect to make critical decisions but of course the highlight will be the unveiling of William Ruto as the UDA presidential candidate and also Kenya Kwanza Alliance,” said Tharaka Nithi Senator rof. Kithure Kindiki.

Some of the UDA leaders said the DP will also be confirmed as the choice to fly the Kenya Kwanza flag. But ANC Deputy Party leader Abdi Yarre while confirming that they will be attending the event told Citizen TV that party boss Musalia Mudavadi was still in the presidential race and that the matter of a Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate was still up for discussion.

“It is not automatic that Ruto is the automatic flagbearer of Kenya Kwanza, we are negotiating and we are telling our supporters and reassure Kenyans that our position is clear, Musalia is a contender for the presidential flagbearer of 2022,” said Yarre.

 The event will officially mark the exit of the DP from the ruling Jubilee Party.

“This is the most important day not only for the history of the party but also for the 2022 presidential election. It’s a game-changing day because the largest party in the country will unveil its presidential candidate…,” added Prof. Kindiki.

Ruto’s partners in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance are expected to attend with sources revealing that the alliance could be receiving new members.

After snubbing the Azimio La Umoja convention speculation was rife that NARC Kenya leader Martha Karua would be among the surprise guests at the ceremony. She has since dismissed the reports as fake news.

“We expect the leader of ANC, FORD-Kenya, Martha Karua…. We have other invited guests who will show up, we will not give you the names right now…,” said Kindiki.

With the alliance at crossroads over the running mate question and Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala having insisted that Mudavadi should run alongside Ruto, ANC’s deputy party leader dismissed Malala’s assertion.

“If so it happens that any other candidate is going to be selected as the bet for that position, we are going to be selected as the best for that position then we will support it but so far we are not demanding for the position of deputy president… No ANC is not demanding that…,” said Yarre.

With  over 5000 aspirants for various posts eyeing the party’s ticket, and with the looming headache over how to manage possible fall-outs the DP is also set to give the assurance of free and fair processes