Ruto Responds To Azimio Outcry On Politicians Joining Kenya Kwanza

The President-elect has been welcoming legislators from other parties to Kenya Kwanza,

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Aug 20, 2022 - 09:57 Updated: Aug 20, 2022 - 09:58
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Ruto Responds To Azimio Outcry On Politicians Joining Kenya Kwanza
William Ruto meets Imenti North MP-elect, Rahim Dawood, an independent candidate among other leaders on August 20, 2022. /WILLIAM RUTO

President-elect William Ruto has explained the reason independent Members of Parliament (MP)- elect are joining his Kenya Kwanza team in large numbers.

In a statement on Saturday, August 20, the outgoing second-in-command stated that for the coalition to realise the bottom-up approach it had promised during its countrywide campaigns, it would require striking an agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies.

Bipartisanship, sometimes referred to as nonpartisanship, is a political situation, usually in the context of a two-party system, in which opposing political parties find common ground through compromise.

William Ruto welcomes more independent MPs-elect to Kenya Kwanza on August 20, 2022. /WILLIAM RUTO

He was nonetheless grateful to the MPs who committed themselves to the Kenya Kwanza ideologies after they were elected on independent tickets.

"Implementing the Bottom-Up Economic agenda will require a bi-partisan approach in legislation.

"It is because of this that we are grateful to MPs elected on Independent tickets who have committed to work with Kenya Kwanza," he stated.

Ruto had hosted a caucus that included Joshua Mbithi (Masinga), Njoroge Elijah (Gatundu North), Caroline Ngelechei (Elgeyo Marakwet), Rahim Dawood (Imenti North), Timothy Kipchumba (Marakwet West), Ntutu Kitilai (Narok South), and Monica Muthoni (Lamu Woman Rep) at his official Karen residence in Nairobi.

The President-elect has been welcoming legislators from other parties to Kenya Kwanza, ranging from United Democratic Movement (UDM) to the United Party of Independence Alliance (UPIA) as well as the Kenya African National Union (KANU), all three being affiliates of Azimio la Umoja.

The rivalling coalition cried foul over Ruto's moves in a statement by Prof. Makau Mutua of the Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat on Friday, August 19, who accused him of committing an illegality by sweeping apart the coalition for dissatisfied members.

"We are shocked that DP William Ruto, who harbours dreams of leading Kenya, is already engaged in acts of impunity and disregard of the rule of law. He must suffer from gross ignorance of our laws.

"As we issue this statement, Mr Ruto is assiduously wooing some of the leaders elected as Independents and on the Azimio Coalition to defect to his side. This is the practice that was used in the KANU era to defeat the independence of the legislature and retard the growth of multiparty democracy," Mutua addressed.

Mutua called for Ruto to be stopped from taking Kenya back to the old days of the KANU dictatorship. He remained confident that the coalition will overturn Ruto's election at the Supreme Court, terming Ruto's actions as that of a candidate that has hinted at a defeat in the election period.

On the same day, Jubilee secretary general, Jeremiah Kioni warned of consequences for its leaders who might defect to Ruto's camp. Jubilee is also an affiliate of Azimio la Umoja.

The registrar of political parties, Anne Nderitu, said that politicians seeking to move to other coalitions will have to terminate their initial pacts and resign from parties that sponsored them to win elective seats.

Prof. Makau Mutua of the Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat. /FILE

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