Ukambani Wiper members demand free and fair nominations ahead of 2027 elections

Some Wiper Patriotic Front party members from the Ukambani region have called for free and fair nominations ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during a Wiper Party mass membership recruitment drive in Mavoko, Machakos County, on Sunday, the members, including youth representatives, said fair nominations would boost voter confidence in Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s presidential bid in the next polls.

They recounted their experiences in past elections, claiming that most aspirants preferred by the electorate failed to secure political office in 2022 after they were shortchanged in party primaries, with party tickets allegedly issued out of favouritism.

“As a Wiper member, it’s my humble request that if we want Kalonzo to have MPs all over the country in the next Parliament, let there be fair nominations. If we conduct fair nominations, we will get the right leaders who are chosen by the electorate on the ground. Do not impose leaders on us,” Catherine Nzisa said.

Nzisa, a resident of Mlolongo-Syokimau Ward in Mavoko Constituency, said several good leaders unfairly missed out on political positions in the Ukambani region after being shortchanged in Wiper nominations. She added that in some regions, there were no party primaries for various positions.

Nzisa said this was the reason the party lost seats in some parts of Ukambani and other regions across the country.

The mass Wiper Party recruitment drive was sponsored by a youthful Mavoko parliamentary aspirant, Ndaisi Kipanga, also known as Mapangale.

“As women and youth from Mavoko, we have decided that Kipanga is our choice for the Mavoko MP seat in 2027,” Nzisa said.

Felix Wambua said most Mavoko residents are Wiper supporters and back Kalonzo’s presidential bid in the next polls.

He, however, noted that the challenge they have faced in the past is that the leaders preferred by the electorate are not the ones presented by the party.

“We urge Kalonzo to ensure free and fair nominations in the Wiper Party. We want leaders of our choice since those forced on us have messed us a lot,” Wambua said.

Wambua said Kalonzo should allow the party to achieve national representation by letting people elect competent leaders, just like ODM does.

Mavoko parliamentary aspirant Ndaisi Kipanga said she organised the drive to boost Wiper Party membership and promote Kalonzo’s presidential bid.

“I have organised this recruitment drive for the Wiper Party, particularly focusing on the youth, who are the majority of Kenya’s population. I think this is a good idea in terms of growing the party numbers and also getting youth actively engaged in party politics,” Kipanga said.

“There have been a lot of clarion calls for the youth to get involved in the changes they want. This is why I have offered myself to run for the Mavoko parliamentary seat,” she added.

Kipanga said she is committed to increasing Wiper membership numbers, promoting development, and offering effective leadership if elected MP.

She urged other political aspirants seeking Wiper tickets, not only from the Ukambani region, to support the recruitment drive in their constituencies and back Kalonzo’s bid.

Wiper Patriotic Front National Youth Leader Julius Umoja assured residents of free and fair nominations.

“Wiper works under the ideology of social democracy, and therefore all registered members should adhere to the party constitution. It articulates how the nomination process is conducted. The party will ensure that we have fair nominations,” Umoja said.

Umoja said Wiper intends to recruit over one million members ahead of the next elections.

“We have waived party nomination fees. Young Wiper patriots have physical offices in 34 counties. We will soon open more in the remaining 10 counties. We are 70 per cent of the youth structure in the county. In 2022, we were only 5 per cent. We will push it to at least 80 per cent before the next polls,” he said.

Machakos County Chief of Staff Lawrence Ngovi lauded Kipanga for supporting the Wiper membership recruitment drive.

Ngovi said over 1,000 youths registered during the exercise.

He urged other leaders in the united opposition to consider Kalonzo as the flagbearer in the forthcoming polls.

“Kalonzo has been called to work with the government, but because of the interest he has for this country, he declined. I urge Kenyans to support him and see what this good dream he has for the country is,” Ngovi said.