The sibling rivalry in the Kenya Kwanza alliance has taken a turn, with Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo pulling their parties out of the alliance’s campaign caravans.
The two are complaining about what they call blackmail and intimidation from Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA Party.
Kabogo and Kuria, who kept off Sunday’s campaign rallies in Githunguri, Gatundu South and Gatundu North constituencies, said UDA – through its leadership, had held a series of rallies and distributed money to mobilise supporters to heckle them.
They cited Saturday’s altercation between the former Kiambu Governor and Senator Kimani Wamatangi, who is flying UDA’s flag in the Kiambu gubernatorial race.
According to the duo, The Service Party (TSP) and its leader Mwangi Kiunjuri had been subjected to similar treatment last week during Kenya Kwanza’s campaign rallies in Nanyuki and Nyahururu, Laikipia County, in the presence of the coalition presidential flag bearer William Ruto.
Kabogo and Kuria claim Ruto and his party had hatched a plan to frustrate political parties from the Mt. Kenya region, yet was lenient to parties from other regions, such as Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC, Moses Wetangula’s FORD Kenya, Alfred Mutua’s Maendeleo Chap Chap and Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) headed by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi.
While expressing their frustration at the turn of events in the alliance, Kuria and Kabogo put the coalition principals on notice, citing abuse and harassment, similar to what they had accused the Jubilee Party of before trooping out.
In a bid to resolve the standoff, the two party leaders have asked for a meeting with DP Ruto, Mudavadi and Wetangula to deliberate on the matter ahead of the August 9 General Election.
On Sunday, Kabogo said he was fighting for the Kiambu gubernatorial seat independently, refusing to discuss Kenya Kwanza’s presidential manifesto that is set to be unveiled this week.
“I do not have a manifesto of any of the presidential candidates. I will be dealing with my manifesto which is to improve the lives of the people of Kiambu and make it easy to survive,” he said during the Debate 2022 program on Citizen TV.
“Things change; now I am on my own,” he added.
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