Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata and Kieni MP Kanini Kega on Wednesday, October 6, clashed over United Democratic Alliance influence in the Mt Kenya region.
While Kang’ata maintained that UDA, a party heavily linked with deputy president William Ruto is the most popular political party in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region now, Kega insisted the party does not resonate well within the mountain Keyna electorate.
“It has been a hustler movement (United Democratic Alliance) tsunami in the Mt Kenya region, going by the seats UDA has captured in recent by-elections,” Muranga senator Kang’ata said in reference to Kiambaa, Juja as well as Muguga ward by-elections where UDA-allied politicians won.
Kega however fired back saying that whoever is coming to woo voters from the vote-rich region should respect the existing political parties adding that UDA is not a Central Kenya party.
“UDA is not a central Kenya party…Whoever is coming into our region must respect the existing political parties in the region,” said Kieni MP.
Kega, a close ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta further said they were revamping the once most powerful party Jubilee and that those who deflected to UDA will regret it soon.
Kang’ata said Mt Kenya region people are not going to support politicians just because those politicians support President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga famous March 2018 handshake.
“If you think that by supporting Uhuru Kenyatta through the Handshake you expect reciprocation from the mountain region, no, that is a personal gesture… We are not going to reciprocate on that basis. The community will not take that burden” Irungu Kangata.
In the interview, Kanini Kega argued that Raila Odinga is the man who has the interests of Mt Kenya at heart.
“In the mountain, we usually make our decisions after doing a lot of consultations. You will be lying to yourself to say that you have bagged the mountain. Before we make any major decision, we usually retreat and discuss,” he said.
