Deputy President William Ruto insists his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) will not enter into any pre-2022 coalition agreements, with any political parties, saying such a move can only be considered after the August 2022 polls. According to reports, the DP has resolved not to negotiate pre-2022 power-sharing deals with other parties but will only do so after, should he win the presidential elections.
On Friday, DP Ruto will be hosted by the People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) and MP George Koimburi in his Juja constituency where the legislator will officially defect to UDA, as a statement to smaller political parties from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.
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This latest move by the Deputy President is expected to ruffle feathers among his allies, some of whom are leaders in the fringe parties.
Even though Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria of Chama Cha Kazi (CCK), former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri of The Service Party (TSP), and Isaac Ruto of Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) have resolved they will back (him) Ruto for President, the three party leaders vowed not to dissolve their outfits and will be fielding candidates alongside UDA, in all elective positions except the presidency.
According to UDA Secretary-General Veronica Maina, any party wishing to support their presidential bid should drop its demands for any pre-election pacts, and that their friends from Mt Kenya (CCK and TSP) have been using the DP’s name to build their parties.
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“These parties have been busy using our name to make themselves relevant by claiming that we have asked them to fold and join UDA. We’ve not asked any of them to do so. Let them continue building their parties as we build UDA to be a national party which accommodates everyone,” she said.
She added: “UDA is not in any coalition talks and there are no such plans. We’re not going to give them a platform to start demanding positions. If they are supporting us in our presidential bid, let us meet as competitors in other seats.”
