Migori governor Okoth Obado hosted William Ruto in Awendo town but the deputy president didn’t quite impress his host.
Ruto launched a charm offensive on Raila’s Nyanza backyard with a major rally held in Awendo town, Migori county on Saturday September 25th.
While addressing residents, the DP appeared to suggest that he would work with Obado’s party People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
However, Ruto’s ally Bonny Khalwale while speaking during an interview on K24 on Wednesday September 29th said that the DP told Obado to fold PDP and join UDA.
“The media attempting to, the last time we were in Migori, give the impression that the deputy president and UDA were are backing down on our clear stand that we don’t believe in small ethnic and regional parties like ANC, Ford Kenya, Wiper and so on. That is our position. Even when were were in Migori we were very clear… we told our very good host the governor of Migori that ‘whereas we are happy to work with you we believe that you are better off, you will deliver more for your people if you don’t run as PDP but you run as UDA’,”said Khalwale.
.@KBonimtetezi: We don’t believe in small ethnic and regional parties like ANC, Ford Kenya, Wiper and so on. That is our position.#K24ThisMorning@iamjeffmote pic.twitter.com/ccwTL60R7L
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) September 29, 2021
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 support him including Obado.
Ruto’s fallout with some of Mt Kenya leaders led by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and The Service Party (TSP) leader Mwangi Kiunjuri was as a result of shunning coalitions deal.
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.
CCM acting Secretary General of Albert Kochei said Kenya is a multi-party democracy and it will not be wise for anyone to force others into folding up political parties in a manner to return the country to one party dictatorship.
The CCM official also noted that Kenyans from respective regions were also using political parties as one way to hold the presidential aspirants accountable for what they promise.
“Kenyans have learned from what has happened concerning the formation of Jubilee and its current state. People don’t want to go back to the same style of doing things and that is why all parties will be active during the elections as bargaining avenues with various aspirants,” Kochei told the Star.
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.
