Political Party In Search For Presidential Candidate
By Mwakwaya Raymond
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Umoja Summit Party of Kenya USPK has launched a search for a probable candidate who will fly its presidential flag come 2022 general election.
Naomi Cidi, the secretary general says the party will fully participate in the next polls and preparation towards that end has started in earnest.
According to her this was the idle time to conduct the search before political temperatures rise.
‘USPK will conduct countrywide forums to get to hear whom people want as their presidential candidate,” she adds.
After the search exercise is over, the National Executive Council members will then analyze the findings before making an official pronouncement who the flag-bearer will be for the party.
The party which has its roots from the Coast Region has gained popularity across the country with many opting to quit their political parties to join the recently found political outfit.
USPK has never filled any candidate for any political position, many thought the party would field a candidate in the just concluded Msambweni parliamentary by elections in Kwale and Dabaso Ward in Kilifi Counties respectively but that never was to be.
National party chairman Matano Chengo says the party will foster national unity as it is its core mandate.
Mr Matano adds that the country is so polarised with the kind of politics being experienced at the moment. “As a party we are determined to get rid of the patronage kind of politics and liberate the country from this unwanted bondage,” he said.
MASS EXODUS
His sentiments were echoed by the Mombasa County USPK chairman Juma Mwarome who said Msambweni byelections is a clear indication of the aspirations of the Coast people to move out of their political cocoons and join the new outfit USPK.
“I can assure you there shall be a mass exodus from the giant political parties to USPK come 2022,” he disclosed.
Intrigues of the Msambweni by elections are now coming up after Orange Democratic Party lost the seat miserably with its deputy party leader Hassan Joho threatening to quit the party.
A section ODM diehards have strongly criticized Joho for failing to deliver the seat whereas the predecessor was an ODM Member of Parliament.
Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya is said to have silently crafted the winning strategy for the seat that fell vacant after the death of Suleiman Dor.
The governor’s win is believed to be a win for the Deputy President Dr William Ruto as he is one of his foot soldiers.
Feisal Badar is said to have been receiving support from the DP during the campaign period.