Deputy President William Ruto is set to be endorsed as the preferred presidential candidate of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as it holds its first-ever National Delegates Conference (NDC).
Over 5,000 UDA party delegates are today expected to endorse Ruto’s State House bid at the Kasarani Gymnasium in line with the party’s constitution.
The move solidifies Ruto’s position in the presidential race against Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga who was nominated as Azimio La Umoja presidential flagbearer on Saturday.
Ruto’s affiliate partners, Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula will be on the list of chief guests.
“UDA is going to unveil its presidential candidate who we believe is the next president of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency William Ruto,” said Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki.
The NDC will also decide on how UDA will formally work with parties that have backed his bid, effectively stamping a seal of approval for the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
According to UDA Secretary-General Veronica Maina, the party walks into the NDC with an open mind to table proposals and seek endorsements.
“Our budget is for 4,350 party delegates. Add about 5,600 aspirants as well as our partners and the total expected population is defined,” she said.
As per the notification, the UDA’s main aim is to seek the NDC’s endorsement for Ruto as their presidential candidate.
Ruto will be able to choose a running companion, organise coalitions, negotiate power-sharing formulae, and sign memorandums with his partners, according to the NDC, which will also empower him to start shaping his political formation.
Chama Cha Kazi party leader Moses Kuria, who has been in talks to join the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, is also expected at the NDC.
Kuria stated that he would not collaborate with Azimio, but rather with Kenya Kwanza.
The event set to mark the formal end of his tenure at the Jubilee Party where he served as deputy party leader before being replaced at its NDC last month.