There have been a growing number of elected politicians joining the Kenya Kwanza Alliance after IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati declared William Ruto the President-elect.
Among those shifting their allegiance include independents and a considerable number of elected leaders allied to the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party.
For instance, on Wednesday, August 17, Marsabit Governor-Elect Mohamud Ali together with all other elected leaders of his UDM party moved to join Kenya Kwanza Alliance despite signing a coalition pact with Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya.
Others who have shifted their allegiance include Meru Governor-elect Kawira Mwangaza pledged to work with the fifth president-elect.
But in a statement on Friday, August 19, Azimio la Umoja spokesperson Makau Mutua accused President-elect of buying elected leaders to boost his numbers in the National Assembly.
While terming the move as “political corruption” Mutua said the immediate former deputy president was taking the country back to the dark and old days of the KANU dictatorship.
“Ruto is assiduously wooing some of the leaders elected as independents and on the Azimio la Umoja coalition to defect to his side,
“This is the practice that was used in the KANU era to defeat the independence of the legislature and retard the growth of multiparty democracy,” Mutua said.
Mutua said Ruto has sensed defeat at the Supreme Court and that he has resorted to illegal and corrupt conduct to give the impression that he is the inevitable victor.
Those defecting have defended their move to work with the president-elect saying they are strategically positioning themselves to fit in the fabric of the public and to also negotiate on behalf of their people.
“We must be able to position ourselves strategically to be able to fit in the fabric of the public and able to sit and negotiate on behalf of the people we have. Ultimately everybody will have to fight for the national space,” said the Mandera Senator-Elect.
