The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party led by President William Ruto has allowed parastatal board chairpersons and members to contest in the party’s grassroot elections.
A memo by UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala informed UDA members of the party’s decision to grant parastatal members the chance to contest in the December 9 elections.
However, this decision is against the advice of the Attorney General (AG) Justin Muturi and Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS) Musalia Mudavadi.
The AG and PCS argued that parastatal bosses should not engage in political activities since they are state officers.
Article 77 (2) of the Constitution blocks any appointed state officers from holding positions in a political party.
“Any appointed State officer shall not hold office in a political party,” it states.
However, Malala stated that the decision is based on a court ruling that members of the state corporations are not employees of the who draw from the exchequer.
“The position is informed by the decision of the High Court that members of state corporations are not employees who draw from the exchequer and are therefore not state officials t warrant their disassociation from political parties,” cited Malala.
Also, Malala said he held a meeting with President Ruto before making the decision and was directed to write to the AG.
Ruto sparks Mixed reactions
Commenting on the issue, Economist Prof Fred Ogolla argued that the decision draws from the politics of identity, adding that people will have to join UDA to get key positions in government.
“When Malala says CEOs should be allowed to join UDA, actually he is telling you reverse that to qualify to be a CEO you should be a member of UDA. If I am a CEO and I don’t subscribe to and join UDA, will I retain my position?” asked Prof Ogolla.
Additionally, Prof Ogolla emphasized that state officials should be separated from politics.
He criticized UDA for allowing parastatal members to participate in the party’s grassroot elections arguing that they are elective positions.
Campaign Managers
In addition, Prof Ogolla said President Ruto is rewarding those who supported him in the elections while attracting new people to retain his position in 2027.
‘All these people are campaign managers, look at the CSs, Principal Secretaries (PSs), Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) and now he has to extend his campaign managers team to the CEOs. It will end up that anybody serving in the government first of all you must show him the campaign ticket,” he said.
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Ruto Using Malala
Former UDA Vice Chairman Kipruto Arap Kirwa said the decision by the party is dangerous for the future of Kenya’s politics.
Further, Kirwa blamed Malala for making such a pronouncement, adding the UDA leadership should stop tolerating his actions.
“I was looking at it as squarely Malala, but if the president is thinking about that then he is courting revolution in Kenya,” stated Malala.
However, Reuben Kigeme, a former Presidential Aspirant said Malala is talking on behalf of the president since he has not come out to stop them.
“They want a dictatorship and KANU style of leadership, but they are testing it on people, even that extension of presidential term limits that is what Ruto wants. He would stop them if he wanted something different,” said Kigame.
Furthermore, Prof Ogolla questioned why the parastatal board heads and members should be allowed to have two jobs while many Kenyans are unemployed.
Also, he said the board members are appointed by CS who are appointed directly by the President making them state officers.
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Professional Public Service
According to Prof Kitile Naituli state officers should not engage in politics because the country needs a professional public service to serve the ruling government.
In addition, he argued that politicians have turned public service to private service thus the arrival of such decisions.
“Until we get a leader who feels the pain of the people, we will continue to debate about these issues which we should not talk about,” said Prof Naituli.
In the memo, Malala also extended the deadline for registration of applications seeking the party’s positions from November 2 to November 17.
