Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has today held a meeting with Deputy President William Ruto to iron out the differences within the yet-to-be registered Kenya Kwanza coalition.
This was after the outspoken legislator demanded that the running mate slot in the Kenya Kwanza coalition that brings together Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Willian Ruto (UDA), and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) must come from the Mulembe nation.
However, on Monday, March 14, Malala who met the deputy president together with other Kenya Kwanza leaders from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region said they had put aside their political differences.
In a statement posted on his social media pages, Malala who is eying the Kakamega gubernatorial seat in the forthcoming General Election said they agreed to work together and focus their energy on helping Ruto win the August 9, presidential contest.
“The Mountain and Mulembe Nation will work together to deliver the 5th president of the Republic of Kenya. Privileged to have met leaders from the expansive Mt Kenya region for a candid tête a tête on the same,” Malala said in a Tweet.
Among those he met were deputy president William Ruto, Embu Senator Peter Njeru Ndwiga, MPs Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), John Njuguna Kawanjiku among others.
Speaking in Kakamega on Saturday, March 12, the outspoken legislator took issue with Mt Kenya leaders specifically Mathira MP Rigati Gachagua who has on several occasions insisted that the running mate slot is reserved for the mountain region.
“This time we are giving a demand that this is a coalition of parties (Kenya Kwanza), this is not a coalition of regions,
“Watu wasikae mahali Pamoja waseme ati kwa sababu wao wamekaa kwa mulima hao wanatosha kuwa naibu wa raisi kuliko sisi hapa chini (People should not seat together and say that because they come from the mountain, they deserve to be the deputy president more than us here),” Malala said.
