A section of UDA grassroot aspirants from the Mt Kenya region has walked out of the party protesting against William Ruto’s move to issue direct tickets to some of his close allies.
Led by Kahio Ngomo, Chairman of Mt Kenya UDA grassroot aspirants, the leaders pointed accusing fingers at the deputy president for making undemocratic endorsements which they said will disrupt party primaries.
“We find this unacceptable, undemocratic subverting the will of UDA supporters. We are equally concerned that such a move is only perpetrated in the Mt Kenya region,” the group chairman noted.
The leaders who removed UDA branded merchandise including T-shirts and caps in protest during a press conference on Friday, September 10, said William Ruto’s new outfit lacks democracy.
They all threw their weight behind President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake partner Raila Odinga adding that they will support President Uhuru Kenyatta’s agenda until 2022.
Their move comes at a time the UDA party, an outfit that the deputy president said will use to seek the country’s top job had been gaining support from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.
Earlier this week, the former Agriculture Minister praised Murang’a senator Irungu Kanga’ata who had been awarded as best Senator in Central Kenya at the County Gala Awards.
These did not settle well with the group which said the deputy president could be secretly orchestrating a plan to issue direct tickets to Kang’ata instead of leaving the aspirants to go for a free and fair nomination.
Kang’ata, a staunch supporter of William Ruto while confirming the endorsement promising to not only revive the ailing agriculture sector but also look into the matters of health.
“Thanks to William Ruto for finding faith in my capabilities as a Murang’a gubernatorial candidate under UDA,
“Pledge to serve the people with all dedication if I bring this seat home with UDA ticket, particularly on matters health and Minimum Guaranteed Return for agriculture,” Kang’ata said in a Tweet.
