Home » Ex-Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi dumps Raila for Ruto

Ex-Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi dumps Raila for Ruto

by Enock Ndayala

Former Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi has dumped Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party for Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

The Empowerment and Development Party (DEP) leader, who lost his bid to seek a second term in the August 9, General Election, said he will work with President-elect William Ruto.

Kiraitu was welcomed to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance camp on Friday, September 2, by President-elect William Ruto and deputy president-elect Rigathi Gachagua.

Former Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi has dumped Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party for Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Former Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi has dumped Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party for Kenya Kwanza Alliance. Photo: William Ruto/Twitter

In a statement on his official Twitter account, Ruto affirmed that the DEP party had pledged to work with the government in place to better the lives of the people of Meru.

“Received the leadership of DEP at the Karen Office, Nairobi led by former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi,

“Their resolve to work with us is an indication that leaders agree that the interests of Kenyans override our personal or party interests,” William Ruto said.

Leaders present include Kenya Kwanza Principals Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Bungoma Senator-elect Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) Salim Mvurya, Aden Duale, Lenny Kivuti, Cecil Mbarire, Justin Muturi, and Mithika Linturi among others.

In the build-up to the August 9, General Election, Kiraitu supported the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

In the Meru gubernatorial race, Kiraitu emerged third after he was defeated by Kawira Mwangaza, who was seeking the seat on an Independent ticket.

Mwangaza was declared the third Meru governor-elect after she garnered 209,148 votes while outgoing Meru senator Mithika Linturi emerged second with 138,859 votes on a UDA ticket.

Kiraitu came a distant third after polling 110,814 votes.

In a move aimed at controlling the National Assembly, President-elect William Ruto has been allegedly “buying” independent legislators to join his camp after he was declared the fifth president-elect.

Already, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and the Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) parties have also joined the alliance.

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