Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA Party is about to flex muscles with President Uhuru’s Jubilee party once again in the upcoming by-elections in Kiambaa Constituency and Muguga Ward.
Being the President’s backyard, the two by-elections, slated for July 15 will be a tough race to watch and analyst believe it is a make or break for Jubilee party..
DP William Ruto has started gaining an advantage over Uhuru in Muguga ward as 6 Jubilee men defected to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Francis Waithaka, Joseph Gacheru, Andrew Murugami, Wilfred Thuku, Francis Njuguna and Jacob Munyua accused the Jubilee party top leadership of sidelining them hence the defection to Ruto camp.
The six, have since visited William Ruto’s Karen residence for talks, vowing to support UDA’s Kamau Thumbi in the upcoming Muguga Ward by-election.
“The politicians were invited to Karen where they met the Ruto and committed to ensure the UDA candidate captures the seat,” a source told People daily newspaper.
The six rebels were among the contestants for the Jubilee party nomination but were left out when the party settled on Mung’ara.
“After the controversial interviews where Mung’ara was declared the winner even before some of us had been interviewed, the party leadership told us to throw our weights behind him and promised to give us KSh 1 million as consolation,” Joseph Gacheru told the press on Wednesday.
The upcoming Muguga and Kiambaa by-election will be a litmus test for Jubilee Party which is seen to be collapsing.
After their subsequent loss in the Juja Constituency and Rurii Ward by-elections held on May 18, members of the Jubilee Party have been calling for new strategies to restore their lost glory.
Waiguru argued that the party needs to be driven by fresh young bloods who understand the current political tides.
