Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has accused President William Ruto and his UDA party operatives of a grand scheme to frustrate the registration of the Linda Mwananchi Movement Party. Osotsi, the National Chairman of the party, made the allegations at the Anglican Church of Kenya in Emabungo, Vihiga County, on Sunday. He claimed that the scheme is aimed at scuttling Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's ambition of being Kenya's sixth president.
According to Osotsi, three individuals are at the centre of the political woes facing the new political outfit. He identified them as a prominent political figure from Western Region, a UDA member of Parliament from the Rift Valley, and a close business associate of President Ruto who is also a member of the ruling UDA affiliates. Osotsi alleged that these individuals have been sponsored by the government, particularly the ruling party UDA.
Osotsi revealed that two members joined the Linda Mwananchi Movement Party on Friday through the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) portal. On the same day, they raised an objection about the National Delegates Convention (NDC). He claimed that these individuals were planted by the state to scuttle the entire process. The party's National Chairman warned that if the political machinations persist, the Linda Mwananchi Movement Party will not just go to the courts but will seek a political approach to this.
Osotsi sounded a warning bell to President Ruto, indicating that Sifuna will beat Ruto in the forthcoming polls. He emphasized that the party will not be intimidated by the alleged schemes and will continue to pursue its goals. The Linda Mwananchi Movement Party is a new political outfit that has been seeking registration.
The allegations by Osotsi are part of a broader trend of opposition leaders accusing the government of using various tactics to undermine their activities. Recently, opposition leaders reaffirmed their unity and vowed to send Ruto home in 2027. The Linda Mwananchi Movement Party's struggles to register have been closely watched by political observers.
President Ruto and the UDA party have not yet commented on the allegations made by Osotsi. The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has also not issued a statement on the matter. The Linda Mwananchi Movement Party's efforts to register have been met with resistance, raising concerns about the fairness of the process.
The situation has sparked concerns about the state of democracy in Kenya, with some questioning the government's commitment to allowing opposition voices to be heard. The Linda Mwananchi Movement Party's determination to pursue its goals despite the alleged obstacles has been seen as a test of the country's democratic institutions.
Key points
- Osotsi accuses President Ruto and UDA party operatives of a grand scheme to frustrate the registration of the Linda Mwananchi Movement Party.
