Rifts emerge in Kenya Kwanza Alliance over running mate's position.

Barely a day after the Deputy President left the country for a 12 day trip in the US and UK, rifts are emerging between UDA and ANC on who will be deputizing William Samoei Ruto on the Kenya kwanza alliance ticket. Speaking to one of the leading TV stations this morning Rigathi Gachagua was very categorical that, the DP's post was a reserve of the mountain. He was very clear that the ANC leader, Musalia Mudavadi, and his counterpart Wetangula, had been told in no uncertain terms that the DP's position was a reserve of the mountain region, in the coming general elections, and 'they understood this before joining us' Rigathi said.

But speaking separately, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, told off Mr Rigathi Gachagua, saying that no deal had been reached yet on who will be Ruto's running mate. He called for calm from their supporters saying that their principals will address the matter when they get back from their foreign trip.

In a rejoinder, the ANC penned a lengthy letter castigating Rigathi telling him that the job of appointing a running mate was a preserve of the principals and he wasn't one of them. In a letter sent to newsrooms, and signed by the secretary-general of ANC, Simon Gikuru, the ANC termed Rigathi's sentiments as premature, untimely, and unwarranted. 

From a political analyst's view, this is bound to be a hot-potato issue if not handled well. Smarting from being left out of the International trip to the US, Gachagua, for some reason, felt like he needed to flex some muscles and maybe prove to some that he is still close to the DP despite being left behind and perhaps maybe he is the one in charge now that Ruto is out of the country. It is widely believed that before the entry of Mudavadi and Wetangula to UDA and the subsequent forming of Kenya Kwanza Alliance, Gachagua was the sole preferred nominee for the Deputy's post. Now it's very unlikely that he is the sole candidate, or even likely that he will get it, given that Musalia is seen as a more seasoned politician than him. This might be what will break the camel's back eventually. Stemming infighting in a coalition is one of the hardest tasks of any coalition leader as the interests and ambition of your juniors clash. It takes a skilled politician with finesse and the precision of a surgeon to do it well.

As if that was not enough for the day, later in the day, the news airwaves were hit by the news that UDA's National treasurer, Omingo Magara, had resigned from his position as the treasurer and also from the party. He asked Ruto to ensure that going forward his party exercised democracy and transparency to ensure no mass defections from the party in the future. It is expected that there will be massive realignments from the politicians of both divides as we approach the General elections. It's a season when parties will reap but also lose in equal measure as the politicians try to find a fitting vehicle that will help them clinch whatever seats they will be vying for. Whatever the situation, it will depend on how party leaders manage this transition period, what they are going to do to keep this defection to a minimum, and the perception they create thereof.