Francis Ole Kaparo is the Chairman of the United Republican Party (URP)
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 3 -The United Republican Party (URP) will now hold its party primaries on January 17, a day before the deadline for aspirants to defect to other parties.
According to party Chairman Francis ole Kaparo, all aspirants have until January 4 to submit their papers to the party.
“If you intend to get a URP ticket you have until 1 pm tomorrow (Friday) to submit your applications because we have to send that information to the printers. If you fail to beat the deadline you will miss the boat,” he emphasised.
Kaparo who spoke after a meeting with MPs allied to the party and the Party’s National Elections Board said that the countrywide nominations will be through secret ballot.
“The exercise will start at 9am in all polling stations and end at exactly 2 pm and the results will be announced by 6 pm… we have put all the necessary arrangements to ensure that secret ballot takes place,” added Kaparo.
The former House Speaker also announced that all disputes arising from the nomination will be heard and addressed in all counties and constituencies within four days after the date of nomination.
He further announced that those who want to be nominated to various seats have until January 15 to submit their applications and pay the requisite fees like those seeking elective posts.
Political parties have moved their nomination dates closer to the deadline for ‘party hopping’, a move that is meant to prevent the defection of those who will lose out at the nominations.
On Wednesday, the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) party primaries were also moved from January 10 to 17, while the Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) headed by Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi announced it will hold its nominations on January 14.
On Monday, President Mwai Kibaki, signed into law the Miscellaneous (Amendment) Bill 2012 that contained amendments to the Elections Act among other laws.
The alteration to the law gave parliamentarians an extra 14 days from the initial January 4 deadline to shift parties.
Meanwhile, The National Alliance party said that it will publicly vet nominees to the elections and appeals board as they prepare for nominations.
According to sources at a party meeting on Thursday, TNA nominations will tentatively be held on the same day as those of URP.
“We will vet nominees to our NEB even as we prepare to unveil the NEB and the appeals board,” said the source.
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