A new political party in the Rift Valley speareheaded by Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago seems to be in the offing if what transpired on Saturday 9, at Inua mama Jenga Taifa rally in Eldoret is anything to go by.
The party with a symbol of ‘rungu’ (club) appears to be in the pipeline with Mandago and his close allies on Saturday attending the rally at Central Primary grounds all in possession of ‘rungus’.
The MPs who appeared linked to the party included William Ruto’s close allies, Oscar Sudi (Kapsaret), Caleb Kositany (Soy)and Gladys Shollei (Uasin Gishu) among others.
Mandago, who is synonymous with “rungu” and known as a gifted orator, a crowd puller and no-nonsense leader, could be the chair of the ‘new’ political outfit.
To a keen observer, Saturday’s action was not just a coincident. It was well calculated in such a way that ‘rungu’ featured prominently in the hands of almost all the speakers.
Coming at a time when the glaring division between supporters of President Kenyatta and DP Ruto, Mandago and a section of legislators appear to be eyeing 2022 outfit, with fears of cracks within the ruling Jubilee party.
The governor had hosted the Inua Mama, Jenga Taifa Uasin Gishu edition where he applauded the initiative for empowering the lives and livelihoods of women, youths and people living with disabilities.
47 groups of women, youths and people with disabilities in Uasin Gishu benefited from the Inua Mama, Jenga Taifa.
They were given welding machines, car wash machines, sewing machines, brick welding machines, and Meko jikos.
Currently, the Rift Valley region seems to be at the crossroads without any solid political party after the disbandment of URP and TNA parties to form the Jubilee Party.
In the absence of strong, ideologically based political parties, Kenyan politicians win elections primarily by securing the support of ethnically mobilized blocs of voters through regional parties.
Recently, Ruto’s supporters, mostly youths hinted at retreating to DP’s former party, United Republican Party (URP) should Jubilee deny him a direct presidential ticket.