In UDA, there have been jitters about a plot to undermine Mr Gachagua by opening up the deputy party leader slot to three party members.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas series of meetings some running late into the night in preparations for UDA party grassroots elections mirrors similar moves by his boss during the repeat Jubilee Party primaries in 2017.
Mr Gachagua appears to have taken over the preparations for crucial party elections scheduled to start on April 26 by holding high-level meetings with top party officials, some at his official Karen residence and others at the UDA headquarters, a move that has sent political shockwaves across the restive Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
This latest move is similar to President William Rutos takeover of repeat Jubilee Party primaries in the run-up to the 2017 General Election.
The outcome of the primaries was, however, controversial with some senior politicians, especially from former President Uhuru Kenyatta s Mt Kenya stronghold losing.
Some would later accuse Dr Ruto of rigging them out in favour of his allies in the region.
In UDA, there have been jitters about a plot to undermine Mr Gachagua by opening up the deputy party leader slot to three party members.
H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH (@rigathi) April 9, 2024Dubbed consultative meetings, the latest development mirrors the move by then Deputy President Ruto when he took over the running of Jubilee party primaries in 2017, setting the stage for a later fallout with his boss, Mr Kenyatta.
Dr Ruto took over preparations for repeat primaries of the Jubilee headquarters, camping at Pangani to monitor the nominations exercise after the initial one botched.
At the height of his fallout in Jubilee, a host of poll losers in Mr Kenyattas home turf of Mt Kenya, among them former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, had accused Dr Ruto of rigging them out in the party primaries.
Government Spokesperson then Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura described the nominations as a sham, while former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando claimed the process was fraudulent, only intended to end the careers of certain political leaders who are perceived by certain quarters as a threat.
Some of the losers claimed that Dr Ruto rigged them out in the party primaries to install his allies to champion his presidential bid. A majority of governors in Mt Kenya, who sought re-election in that polls, were floored by newcomers.
In an interview last year, Mr Kabogo changed tune and appeared to now blame Mr Kenyatta over his loss.
I complained so bitterly to the President (Ruto). I tried to blame him, then he was Deputy President and it got so heated I told him you have fixed me because you are the one who came to Jubilee house when things didn't work on the first day, you came to take over,' said Mr Kabogo.
'He told me you know William I can feel you but I'm telling you, I know you know where your problems come from. I just want you to leave me alone on this matter, deep down you know.'
Mr Mwaura too appeared to have seen the light and denied the rigging claims, after he joined Rutos then Tangatanga wing ahead of the 2022 polls.
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