Kenya Kwanza presidential flag bearer William Ruto has suffered a setback after UDA vice-chair Kipruto Arap Kirwa joined Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja -One Kenya Coalition party.
The former Agriculture Minister claimed that the choice of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua as William Ruto’s presidential running mate clearly showed that Kenya Kwanza was stifling democracy.
Kirwa who was speaking at a political rally in Bungoma on Sunday, May 29, after being welcomed into Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition party flag bearer Raila Odinga said it took him two weeks deliberating on the decision to ditch Deputy President William Ruto.
“Two weeks ago, my side appointed the person who was going to be running mate of my brother, that was the clearest indication that there is no democracy,” Kirua said.
While welcoming him, Raila Odinga’s 2022 presidential running mate Martha Karua said Kirwa was a hardworking leader who showed his commitment to change Kenya when he was the minister during late President Mwai Kibaki’s regime.
“I know my brother Kipruto Kirwa as a hardworking person. We were with him in the Kibaki government and he was in charge of Agriculture,” Karua said.
This is not the first UDA inner-circle to ditch 2022 presidential front runner William Ruto for his main challenger Raila Odinga.
In February 2022, UDA National party treasure Omingo Magara ditched the party over what he termed as a “lack of democracy” in the then-ongoing UDA nominations.
“For a long time, I have harbored an ambition to be the Kisii County Governor through the UDA party where I was also the national treasurer. However, there have since been developments that render my candidature through the UDA Party impossible,
“After considerable reflections and consultations with my people in Kisii County, national leaders, family, and friends, my political future and ambitions cannot be sufficiently addressed by the UDA party, I therefore immediately resign as a party member and as a treasurer,” he said.
