Deputy President William Ruto might not ascend to State House if the behaviour of some United Democratic Alliance (UDA) officials is condoned - Amani National Congress (ANC) and an affiliate party have warned.
In a statement dated Thursday, May 5, Musalia Mudavadi's ANC and Farmers Party claimed that some UDA aspirants who held a meeting in Murang'a county had urged voters to select adopt the famous six-piece voting pattern endorsed by the party.
The two seemingly aggrieved parties further accused the officials who attended the event organised by UDA Secretary of Legal Affairs Edward Muriu of asking the county's voters to disregard all the other parties, which constitute the Kenya Kwanza alliance.
The parties claimed that the strategy was detrimental to Ruto's campaign to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"He (Edward Muriu) led the meeting in addressing the media where they insisted that voters should vote a six-piece in favour of UDA terming the other parties in Kenya Kwanza as 'Matangari' (which means tattered clothes.
"These are derogatory and shameful remarks that are against the spirit of Kenya Kwanza as demonstrated by the principals... Such reckless statements negatively affect the candidature of the Kenya Kwanza Presidential candidate H.E. William Samoei Ruto to the advantage of our opponents as it could lead to voter apathy," read the statement in part.
The two parties further demanded that the officials be compelled to denounce their utterances publicly to restore the integrity of the party.
"We hereby demand an immediate public withdrawal of these remarks and sentiments by the UDA Party and clarification for the Kenya Kwanza supporters that these sentiments do not represent the official position of UDA Party and that six-piece voting pattern means voting any Kenya Kwanza Coalition party candidates," added the statement, signed by Farmer Party chair Irungu Nyakera and ANC Secretary General Simon Kamau.
This comes after the conclusion of the chaotic UDA party primaries that saw some political bigwigs and DP Ruto's allies rejected, with others now opting to vie as independent candidates.
Previously, Kenya Kwanza party partners confirmed that the alliance would not zone any region, with the alliance likely to experience sibling rivalry especially in areas where two or more partner parties enjoy sizeable following.
The alliance's officials argued that zoning would hamper free and fair election which goes against the spirit of the faction and the over 8 million members.
Ruto is battling former Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Azimio One Kenya Alliance party for the Presidency.
