The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General, Veronica Maina, has called out the Daily Nation for misleading Kenyans over their cover story on Deputy President William Ruto.
The article titled "Ruto pulls a fast one on parties" purported that the DP had yielded to demand for autonomy of small parties that had decided not to disband in order to join the UDA brand.
Speaking on TheTackle show on Tuesday, October 26, Maina affirmed that the party's stance had not changed and that they had not yielded to any pressure from other parties.
"I don't know where they got that headline from. Our position has not changed as UDA. We are busy building our party and it's still new. So the pressure for us to think about coalition partners for now. We are looking at a national party where everyone feels they belong. UDA has not compelled any party to come and join it."
"Our approach is persuasive, we talk to voters and ask Kenyans to join and thankfully God has granted us so much favour that Kenyans are with us, their heartbeat is with UDA, so I don't know where Nation got that story," she stated.
The article had stated that the DP had yielded to the pressure from other parties but sought to negotiate power sharing deals only if he won the Presidential vote.
The article further stated that this would be assessed on the party's performance in parliamentary and Gubernatorial polls in 2022.
Ruto affiliates such as Gatundu South MP, Moses Kuria, of Chama Cha Kazi, former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri of The Service Party and Isaac Ruto of Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) have been adamant that they would not disband their parties in order to join UDA.
They have reiterated that they are open to dialogue and will choose the Presidential candidate who will secure the interests of the Mt Kenya region.
"If you truly want to take care of Mt Kenya voters you must assure us that you will change the constitution in the first 100 days in office so that we can have that equality."
"Nobody should boast of being the kingpin of Mt Kenya region. How can you boast of being the kingpin of Mt Kenya region when you are yet to be voted for?" Kiunjuri posed.
