THE SECRETARY GENERAL
WIPER DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT KENYA WIPER HOUSE
CHAIRPERSON
NATIONAL ELECTIONS BOARD WIPER DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT KENYA WIPER HOUSE
Delivered by e-mail and Whatsapp numbers.
RE: WIPER DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT KENYA PARTY NOMINATIONS- KITUI GUBERNATORIAL
I write in reference to the above.
My attention has been drawn to a formal or informal notification by Dr. Julius Malombe (my competitor) to Wiper Democratic Movement Kenya (Party) to the effect that he is dissatisfied with the fact that the party has made a decision to conduct nominations to choose WDM Governor candidate for Kitui County in the August Polls by use of direct method (People’s vote).
I have also seen social media reports suggesting that he is contemplating running as an Independent Candidate in event the party does not conduct its nomination by use of indirect method (Consensus) aimed at picking him as its candidate for Kitui gubernatorial contest.
As you may recollect, in an attempt to arrive at a consensus in picking its flag bearer for the position of Governor Kitui County, the party has held several meetings between Senator David Musila, Dr. Malombe and myself. Senator Musila got dissatisfied with the results of the meetings and decamped to Jubilee Party.
In our most recent meeting on 2022.04.12 at the Wiper Party Commanding Center, Karen involving the four of us – Dr. Malombe, Dr. S. Kalonzo, Ms. Agatha and Myself, the party through our party leader, Dr.Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, endorsed party nominations to proceed and tasked us to appoint our respective teams to agree on list of polling stations, polling officials and polling logistics including transportation of ballot papers.
It was also clear that in absence of party nominations taking place, no one would be issued with a ticket for Kitui gubernatorial contest.
After the meeting on 12th April, I proceeded to the ground to prepare for the nominations and I have since been traversing the county doing what is necessary.
I have even prepared my team who should be visiting the Wiper Commanding Center on 17th April for discussion on the nominations exercise slotted to take place on 21st April 2022. I am concerned that in his communication referred to above, Dr. Malombe has asked that the issue of the mode of choosing a candidate for the party be re-opened and that earlier opinion polls which he himself agreed were fraudulent (at the meeting on 12th April 2022) be used as the basis for nominating him as the party flag bearer in the Kitui Gubernatorial contest.
Firstly, let me point out that the party constitution and the Political Parties Act do not recognize opinion polls as a means of conducting party primaries.
Secondly and of more importance, it is now not legally tenable for the party to use indirect method of nominations since the requisite period, for issuing statutory notices, has lapsed without such actions/steps being undertaken. Lastly, following the party’s final position on the matter on 12th April 2022, together with my team we have expended millions of shillings in preparation for the nomination exercise including paying our agents who are to man polling stations.
Needless to state, I have a legitimate expectation that the party will pick its candidate by way of indirect nominations to be held on 21st April 2022.
In view of the above, the attempt by Malombe to re-open the issue amounts to diversionary politics aimed at preparing ground for his other actions.
I do not agree with such a move and hence I am not prepared to attend a meeting whose agenda is to discuss consensus towards issuing a direct ticket to either Malombe or myself.
Let us proceed as planned to the nominations on 21st. April 2022 so that Kitui people/wiper members can decide it’s preferred and popular candidate through the ballot.
Yours Faithfully,
Amb. Julius Kiema Kilonzo.
CC. WIPER DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT PARTY LEADER