United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a party heavily linked to Deputy President William Ruto has settled on a woman for an upcoming by-election in Kisii county as it strives to bring its first legislator to parliament.
The party- which lost two recent parliamentary by-elections in Matungu and Kabucahi constituencies- has picked Teresa Bitutu who is the widow to late Bonchari MP Oroo Oyieka- to fly its flag in the constituency.
“United Democratic Alliance and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have agreed to support the candidature of Teresa Bitutu Oroo, (widow) of late Bonchari MP, Oroo Oyioka on a UDA ticket,” read a statement from the party seen by Kivumbi.co.ke.
By-election is slated for May 18, 2021.
Interestingly, the late Oroo Oyioka, who passed on at Aga Khan hospital in Nairobi in February, after a long illness was elected on a PDP ticket.
The development comes at a time questions are being raised over William Ruto’s perceived huge support across the country following UDA’s heavy defeats where the party only won one of 7 by-elections held on March 4, 2021.
Out of 2 parliamentary and 5 ward by-elections, UDA only won the London ward seat in Nakuru county, welcoming its first elected member since formation few months ago.
In Bonchari, Ruto’s party shall no doubt face the uphill task of battling out with Raila’s ODM party which is yet to pick on a candidate for the by-election.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands former Kisii South Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) branch executive secretary Geoffrey Mogire has submitted a nomination request to ODM to participate in the by-election.
Jubilee party is yet to pick a candidate however going by previous trends, it is likely the party might opt to let ODM- which enjoys huge support in Kisii Nyanza- to battle it out with UDA and any other party.
It is believed Ruto shall use UDA for his stab at the presidency in 2022 having fallen out with the party hierarchy in Jubilee.
The deputy president will thus be keen to use by-elections like this to popularise the party in every part of the country like he did in Kabuchai and Matungu constituencies where he lost to Moses Wetangula’s and Musalia Mudavadi’s parties respectively.
