Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that President William Ruto declined Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s request to join Kenya Kwanza.
Speaking to professionals from Kitui County at the Bomas of Kenya, the second in command said Ruto declined the request after Kalonzo had refused to join Kenya Kwanza until the Supreme Court makes its verdict.
“Do you know even after we won, Ruto approached him (Kalonzo) to join our side and he said no. After they were defeated at the Supreme Court he came back and we told him that he was late,” Gachagua said on Monday, July 31.
Despite the Kalonzo deal not sailing through, Gachagua maintained that the President was keen on working with Ukambani leaders hence the appointment of three Cabinet Secretaries from Ukambani.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands that in April 2022, the deputy president intimated that the Wiper leader would have been awarded the mandate of leading the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if he chose to join the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
The seat belonged to Kalonzo, and if he came he would have gotten it but he chose to stay in Azimio,” said Gachagua.
“The president said ‘Okay I wanted to give Kalonzo the ministry of foreign affairs but since he has chosen to go there I will return the position here in Machakos’ and he gave it to Alfred Mutua,” he added.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga on Monday, July 31, appointed Kalonzo Musyoka to lead a delegation of Azimio leaders in the ongoing dialogues with Kenya Kwanza side.
Azimio has tabled five issues to be discussed including the high cost of living, audit of 2022 elections, bipartisan reconstitution of the electoral commission, inclusivity in national affairs, and respect for political parties.
