Why I'm Not Boarding UDA - Moses Kuria Sends Irungu Kang'ata to William Ruto

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria speaking during the burial of musician Mighty Salim in Nakuru County
An Undated Image of Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria speaking during the burial of musician Mighty Salim in Nakuru County
Moses Kuria

Gatundu South legislator Moses Kuria stated that he would not lead the Kikuyu community into joining the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party which will likely field a presidential candidate in 2022.

Speaking on Wednesday, July 21, Kuria explained that he would drum up support for Deputy President William Ruto but he will not join the party that many pundits are speculating he will use to contest.

Kuria told Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata to communicate his stance to the UDA team which is headed by Deputy President William Ruto. 

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria addressing the media on January 10, 2020.
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria addressing the media on January 10, 2020.
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He added that Mt Kenya leaders would be answerable to their community in the event that the relationship with Ruto failed in the future. 

"If you go for dowry negotiations and you are being carried in a car donated by the groom, the groom's family will not respect you and you will not get much. I will not be counted among those negotiating dowry from a point of weakness. This is message is for Kang'ata so that he can deliver it to our boss."

"We have done the bigger thing by supporting someone that isn't from our community but when we start planning ourselves and form our own party we should not be called tribalists. If things go south, and they often do, what will we tell our people? These days even women who are getting married do not burn the bed they were sleeping on in their parent's house," Kuria stated.

The MP also asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to keep off the 2022 Presidential elections and advised him to follow the example of retired President Mwai Kibaki who left politics once his term in office was over.

In 2020 Kuria alleged that the Jubilee party has lost influence in the Mount Kenya region. Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Thursday, December 17, 2020, the legislator stated that losses by Jubilee in the by-elections that had been held by that time were an indication of the ruling party's dwindling support in Central Kenya.

"Jubilee has lost grip of Mt Kenya completely. People's Empowerment Party (PEP) is the future," Kuria, PEP's party leader claimed. 

Although Kuria is a member of the Jubilee Party he fielded candidates in the December 2020 by-elections held in Mt Kenya, challenging the party that got him elected to Parliament. 

PEP's candidate Esther Mwihaki was elected to the Murang'a County Assembly after winning the Gaturi Ward by-elections. She trounced seven other candidates including Jubilee's Rosemary Wakuthie. 

Ichung'wa who also spoke to Kenyans.co.ke attributed Jubilee's declining influence in Mt Kenya to an alleged poor leadership in the party.

"Jubilee lost grip when it was hijacked by a cabal that has no regard for anyone. They made the party lose touch with the people as Jubilee is run like an exclusive private members club," he remarked.

According to political analyst Martin Andati who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke, UDA employed well-organized tactics which made them triumphant over Jubilee in several by-elections.

Andati argued that UDA in all by-elections ran well-organized campaigns and rallies, unlike Jubilee which had a different approach.

The UDA wheelbarrow at Kiptagich Police  Station in Kuresoi.
The UDA wheelbarrow at Kiptagich Police Station in Kuresoi.
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