Ruto Suffers Blow in Matungu By-elections Race

Deputy President William Ruto has suffered a blow ahead of the Matungu by-election after seven MP aspirants backed out of his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) linked party.

The seven aspirants failed to drop their bid in favour of the party's preferred candidate following a closed-door meeting in Nairobi.

A gathering was convened on Thursday, January 7 with the aspirants meeting former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and his former Machakos counterpart Johnston Muthama as they were promised the party's backing.

Deputy President William Ruto and former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale during the requiem mass for Adelaide Khalwale at Malinya village in Ikolomani, Kakamega County on October 10, 2019.

The Standard

The aspirants now claim that they were duped into attending the meeting and have now disassociated themselves from the party.

The seven candidates are now planning to proceed with their ambitions in the forthcoming parliamentary by-elections without any support of a political party.

UDA is planning to back Alex Lanya Wamukoya, a renowned contractor in Kakamega county.

The seven aspirants that attended the meeting include former Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committee chairman Khamis Athman, Murunga's widow, Christabel, former constituency manager Odanga Pesa.

Paul Posho, Seif Omoro and Anzelimo Kongoti are now planning to run on an independent ticket.

"We got surprised when all of us met at Muthama's office in Gigiri. We were then told to move to Muthama's home in Runda where we were asked to drop our ambitions in favour of Alex Lanya Wamukoya," Wakoli told Nation.

According to reports, the former Ford Kenya national youth leader claimed that he rejected the proposal and stormed out of the meeting.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) had slated the Matungu by-election for March 4. 

IEBC officials open a ballot box after the Law Society of Kenya election exercise at Nyeri law court station on February 18, 2012.

Daily Nation