The Devolution Empowerment Party, popularly known as the Bus Party, is planning to hold its National Delegates Convention in the coming days to allegedly eject officials allied to Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi and pick new national officials.
The party, which is linked to former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, has been battling internal leadership challenges with factions fighting for positions.
It has now emerged that the upcoming NDC could formally replace Kiraitu as the party leader, which could end his grip on the outfit after years of squabbles.
The party is also linked to former Embu Senator Leny Kivuti.
Kiraitu had resigned in June as the Bus party leader but his allies have been pushing to control the outfit, triggering court battles.
Kiraitu quit his party position following a nasty fallout with the National Executive Committee on the basis that he is a public officer serving as the chairperson of the National Oil Corporation.
A faction allied to lawyer Mugambi Imanyara said it is gearing up for the upcoming NDC to pick bonafide party leaders as part of ongoing efforts to revive the Bus party ahead of the 2027 polls.
Imanyara, who is the DEP party secretary-general, had been allegedly suspended by the party’s NEC over alleged misconduct although the ouster was never effected by the registrar of parties.
“We will soon hold our NDC to put our house in order and elect officials who will steer the party into a national movement,’’ said Imanyara.
A date for the NDC will be set in the coming days as Imanyara plans a radical shakeup to firm up his grip on the party ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
A Special NDC convened by Imanyara in July failed to take place following court battles that saw the Political Parties Disputes Resolution Tribunal slam brakes.
Following the resolution of the tribunal, Solomon Chepngeny and Everton Khaemba filed a constitutional petition challenging the ruling.
On Monday, the High Court in Kericho ruled that Imanyara’s faction can now call the NDC for party delegates to make decisions regarding the leadership of the party.
The upcoming NDC will elect interim officials with Kiraitu’s allies likely to be kicked out as Imanyara’s team seeks to tighten its grip on the outfit.
Imanyara has been fighting his alleged removal as DEP Secretary General by a faction allied to Kiraitu early this year.
However, he has remained the legally registered secretary general despite the purported ouster.
In a letter dated January 15, Imanyara wrote to the Registrar of Political Parties requesting a list of DEP's registered officials after a group claimed to have removed him from the leadership.
In response, through a letter dated January 17, the registrar listed Kimathi as party leader, Rael Murungi as deputy leader and Imanyara as secretary general among other officials.