Immediately, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati declared William Ruto the president-elect, a section of Raila allies started joining Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Already, former Governors Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni), Kiraitu Muringi (Meru), and Jack Ranguma (Kisumu), Mandera Senator Ali Roba, Tiaty MP William Kamket, and Ugenya MP David Ochieng have ditched Raila for Ruto.
The mass defections witnessed in the recent past have elicited sharp reactions from both Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition and the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
While Raila’s camp claims those defecting have been bought by Ruto to weaken the opposition, William Ruto’s camp on the other side claim that he is welcoming Raila’s allies so that he can strengthen government institutions.
However, Wiper deputy party leader Farah Maalim has said that Raila’s allies are joining William Ruto because the President-elect is immensely generous.
In an interview with KTN News on Monday, September 12, the Daadab MP said he was with Ruto in ODM and that, unlike Raila Odinga, Ruto will always share the little he has with friends and go to look for other money.
“William Ruto is a very generous person. When I was with him in ODM, he would share the little he had with others,” Maalim said.
Maalim further stated that Raila’s allies were ditching him because the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party captain has a tendency of using people and dumping them thereafter.
“In politics, if you use people and dump them, you will pay,” he said.
The first politician to ditch Raila Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition for William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance was former Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana.
Analysts have faulted the ongoing move by Raila allies to join the government saying it will weaken the opposition which should act as a watchdog of the government.
“If we focus on strengthening government institutions, who will put them in check when they go to bed with the government?” said Advocate Noordin Khagai.
