Even before the elections, Deputy President William Ruto’s pick of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua as his running partner has cost him dearly.
This comes after Kipruto Arap Kirwa, the UDA’s National Vice Chairman, left the DP to join Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party.
Raila and his running companion Martha Karua revealed Kirwa at the Azimio rally in Bungoma County yesterday.
In President Mwai Kibaki’s first term, the departed UDA official was one of the party’s most experienced politicians, having served as Cherang’any MP for 10 years and as a Cabinet Minister for five years.
Kirwa mentioned Gachagua’s selection as Ruto’s running companion as a key factor in his departure.
He went on to say that he was demoralized by the choice, but that he only found hope once Martha Karua, a former compatriot, was chosen to deputize Raila.
“It’s been a two-week trip for me, and last Sunday, Kenya Kwanza announced Ruto’s running partner, which was the final indicator among many that there was a lack of democracy.”
“The next day, Raila announced Karua as his running mate, and for the previous 13 days or so, I’ve been wondering about how and why I’d continue on a side that was willing to forsake democracy?” he explained.
The former Agriculture minister intimated that he reached out to the Narc Kenya party leader on May 28 at night, to inform her of her decision, which he wanted to make public during Azimio’s next rally.
In addition, he officially announced his resignation from UDA and declared support for Raila Odinga.
“Yesterday night I called Karua and asked her where she would be and she told me in Bungoma. I told her that I would be coming to the rally to officially join Azimio .”
“From Today, I Kipruto Arap Kirwa have resigned as the UDA Vice-Chairman, because democracy may fail in Kenya Kwanza. The law dictated that the winner of an election must have 50 per cent plus one, and I have brought my one vote to Raila Odinga,” he added.
