Deputy President William Ruto has angrily responded to the new demands issued by the Mt Kenya Unity Forum which brings together small parties from the region.
Mt Kenya Unity Forum comprises of Narc Party Leader Martha Karua, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and Mwangi Kiunjuri.
Apart from Karua, the two other party leaders are inclined to Ruto but refuses to fold their parties and join United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Mt Kenya Unity Forum is adamant that presidential contenders seeking the region’s support must go through them.
Speaking in Makueni county, Ruto angrily lashed at Mt Kenya Unity Forum saying that their tribal outfits are irrelevant, further terming then as “village parties”.
“I have heard that some people are now demanding that I must go through them, for me to secure their votes. Those are politics of blackmail, backwardness, and irrelevance. We are focused on building an outfit (UDA) that will consist of everyone. Does that means that if you don’t have a political party, you can’t be elected? We don’t want to engage in village parties’ politics please,” Ruto said as reported by Inoroo Tv.
DP Ruto has insisted that all parties backing him must dissolve and join UDA, a move that has put him at loggerheads with several party leaders across the country.
Ruto’s fallout with some of Mt Kenya leaders led by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and The Service Party (TSP) leader Mwangi Kiunjuri is as a result of shunning coalition deals.
Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) party headed by former Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto has also resisted calls by Ruto to dissolve and join UDA.
CCM insists that the party would only back the DP in 2022 presidential race but go it alone on all other matters, including fielding aspirants.
Political analysts warn that Ruto’s decision not to form coalitions with other parties may cost him dearly as he is only pushing his would-be allies to Raila Odinga’s corner.
Raila’s ODM is embracing the idea of working with other small parties and has signed a handful of coalition agreements.
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