Big Blow to DP Ruto as his Top Ally, UDA Official Deserts Him For Raila

Deputy President William Ruto has suffered a loss after one his key allies decided to leave the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

Former Agriculture Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa announced on Sunday that he has severed times with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

He was the UDA Vice-chairman.

Kirwa declared his support for Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party.

The ex-Cherangany lawmaker was received by the former Prime Minister at Mayuba Stadium in Sirisia, Bungoma County this evening.

On why he left UDA, Kirwa said he was extremely disappointed when the DP selected Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua to be his presidential running mate.

“Two weeks ago, Kenya Kwanza announced their selection of DP Ruto’s running mate and that was the final indication among many that was a lack of democracy.

“The next day, Raila unveiled Martha Karua as his running mate and for the last 13 days or so, I have been thinking about how and why I would stay at the side where democracy was going to be sacrificed,” he said.

A few days ago, Gachagua conceded that his nomination split Kenya Kwanza down the middle, but he was working to unite all leaders in the coalition.

In the 17-hour stalemate that preceded the Gachagua’s selection, the majority of the leaders in the alliance preferred Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki.

Internal opinion polls had also indicated that Kindiki was ahead of Gachagua.

But that did not matter.

The Mathira MP said picking a running a running is akin to a man choosing a wife in a pool of many girls.

He noted that the man, in this case Dr Ruto, had the final say.