The Disability Caucus of UDA endorses a Ruto candidature, warn against Raila Presidency

By Mourice Seretta

The Disability Caucus of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) drawn from all the 47 counties in the country have formally endorsed Deputy President William Ruto as their Presidential candidate during the forthcoming General Elections.

The Caucus led by nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura and Nominated Member of Parliament David Sankok say that they reached at the decision after scrutinizing Ruto who they say they found as God fearing, visionary, energetic, patriotic and committed to serve the people of Kenya, a gifted leader who stands talll against his competitors and nemesis.

‘While others represent the past, he represents the future.’ The caucus said.

They also thanked Ruto as UDA’s party leader for zero rating the nomination fees for aspirants with disabilities from MCA up to the Presidential position.

‘This has increased the political participation of us in unprecedented manner in the political history of our republic. As a result, 300 aspirants with disabilities have shown up to contest for various positions, including a young lady Tracy Wanjiru who is gunning for the presidency,’ they outlined.

They asked that UDA party considers that atleast 10% of all those who shall be given the nomination certificates to run as candidates, be persons with disabilities, in fulfillment of article 29 of the Convention of the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (CRPD), Article 54 (2) of the Constitution of Kenya that requires that 5% of all elective and appointive positions be for persons with disabilities.

‘In fulfilment of Agenda 101, Parliament should amend the elections act to provide for that 2 MCAs in each County assembly nominated, Man and woman to represent Persons With Disabilities. Currently more than half of the Assemblies lack our representation,’ John Odenge read part of the statement.

They also demanded that 12 nomination slots in the National Assembly, 4 of them should be reserved for persons with disabilities being two Male and two Female.

Further they demanded that the 2 Senate seats be retained as is, and not to be scrapped as had been proposed by the discreted and nullified by BBI Constitutional Amendments.

‘We also demand that UDA should formally entrench Disability Caucus in its constitution. Persons With Disabilities should be represented in the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UDA party. We shall also be retreating after the National Delegates Conference to develop a charter that will form part of UDA’s manifesto, defining the agenda and priorities that our government will address once elected into office come August 2022,’ they demanded.

They cautioned against former Prime Minister Raila Odinga owing to his links with violence in Kenya’s previous elections.

Sankok said that people living with disability in the country dread Odinga’s bid because of his history of violence after every election.

“We have identified that every time we have violence in Kenya there is one single denominator that does not miss in the name of Raila Amollo Odinga when it comes to violence,” he said

Sankok noted that Odinga’s unwillingness to accept poll results had proved to be costly for the country with the persons living with disability being the most affected when chaos erupt.

He claimed Odinga’s involvement in Kenya’s 1982 coup, and violence in the 1997 General Election whose outcome Odinga rejected and the 2007 polls that subsequently led to the formation of the grand coalition government.

Sankok also faulted Odinga’s involvement in the 2013 and 2017 polls which he said were marred with post election violence due to Odinga’s reluctance to accept the poll outcome.

“That is why as persons living with disability we have said we will not vote for Raila because in case of any violence those who will suffer most is us,” he said.

Lastly they called upon persons with disabilities to stand up and be counted during the party primaries (nominations), be visible in the campaigns and come out in large numbers to vote for their presidential candidate in the coming general elections.

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