Ruto set for scheme luncheon ahead of EALA nominations

Parliament will vet 19 persons nominated to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Thursday morning as Eldoret North MP William Ruto assembles his troops to oppose the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nominees.

Mr Ruto has organised a luncheon at a Nairobi hotel to strategize on how to reject the nominees by ODM following failure by the party to consult his new United Republican Party (URP).

“We have been asked to attend the luncheon at Panafric Hotel tomorrow (Wednesday) to strategize on how we will shoot down the ODM nominees,” said an MP allied to Ruto who requested not to be named.

Mr Ruto and his allies are demanding a share of the five slots granted to ODM by virtue of its strength in Parliament.

Ruto argues that even though they defected from ODM, they have a right to share in the slots of the party since they were elected to Parliament on the ticket and whose numbers have been used to arrive at ODM's strength in the House.

READ: Showdown looms at Eala nominations

It will however be difficult for Mr Ruto to achieve his intentions given that his URP party is not a parliamentary political party and has no members elected to the House therefore does not pass the rules for EALA as a “nominating political party.”

Party of National Unity (PNU) has been given four slots to EALA but has nominated 12 persons to contests the same. ODM forwarded a list of nine persons.

Parliament is on Thursday expected to elect nine persons to the regional assembly which is scheduled to be inaugurated on June 5, in Arusha Tanzania. Each of the partner states - Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi - are to send nine people elected to the assembly.

Communication from the Clerk of the National Assembly Patrick Gichohi says the nominees will be vetted by the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday before its report is debated in a Special Session Thursday morning.

The House will then proceed to elect through a secret ballot the nine successful candidates.

READ: Disputes loom as House picks EALA members

Mr Gichohi invited the nominees to appear before the team for the vetting exercise. The list of successfully candidates will be gazetted on Friday before the names are forwarded to EAC secretariat in Arusha on June 4.

Out of the 9 nominees by ODM, three are former MPs Peter Odoyo, Joseph Kiangoi and Immanuel Imana. Other nominees are Ms Ramaita Judith Nayiai, Ronald Ngeny, Mumbi Ng’aru, Abubakar Zein Abukar, Janet Nuh Mohammed and Nancy Kabayeka Lung’ahi Abisai.

PNU and its coalition affiliates Kanu, Narc Kenya and Wiper Democratic Party has presented 12 persons for election to the 3rd Assembly of EALA.