Nairobi, April 18 -- Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's series of meetings -some running late into the night - in preparations for UDA party grassroots elections mirrors similar moves by his boss during the repeat Jubilee Party primaries in 2017.

Mr Gachagua appears to have taken over the preparations for crucial party elections scheduled to start on April 26 by holding high-level meetings with top party officials, some at his official Karen residence and others at the UDA headquarters, a move that has sent political shockwaves across the restive Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

This latest move is similar to President William Ruto's takeover of repeat Jubilee Party primaries in the run-up to the 2017 General Election.

The outcome of the primar...