Garissa Town MP Aden Duale caused a scene yesterday when he pulled lawyer George Kathi from the podium during a press conference where Deputy President William Ruto was unveiling his coalition’s latest signing, the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) led by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi.
In video footage seen by Kivumbi. co. ke the former National Assembly Leader is captured pulling back the lawyer who is also the Kilifi gubernatorial candidate as he attempted to strategically position himself next to DP Ruto.
Kithi’s move could have been informed by the positioning of his competitor, Aisha Jumwa who was strategically behind the DP.
Duale’s actions precipitated varied reactions as those allied to Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya said the Kenya Kwanza is not for commoners as it has always been portrayed by DP Ruto.
Some questioned why Governor Kingi could not protect his candidate even after dumping Azimio la Umoja- One Kenya coalition on grounds there was no respect for smaller parties.
“Amason Kingi says he joined UDA to protect coastal people. Yet he couldn’t protect George Kithi from being humiliated by Duale. Kithi is PAA’s gubernatorial candidate for Kilifi. If Kingi can’t protect his classmate, friend, lawyer & or PAA member, how can he protect a stranger?” Lawyer Donald Kipkorir said on Twitter.
A random Twitter user Mac Otani said, “Amason Kingi claimed he left Azimio (La Umoja-One Kenya alliuance). because it refused to zone Kilifi County for his PAA Party. I can see Duale has already zoned PAA’s Kilifi governor aspirant George Kithi in favor of UDA’s Aisha Jumwa. Awuoro,”
Others, however, defended the Garissa Town MP for restoring protocol at the DP’s press conference.
“Criticize not Aden Duale or sympathy-seek for George Kithi. There is a concept in sociology called social stratification. In it, there is a principle of the pecking order propounded by Professor Talcott Parsons. Kithi is familiar with it from the Unit, Social Foundations of Law.” Lawyer Nelson Havi said on Twitter.
