Leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto have offered unusual support to ANC Leader Musalia Mudavadi and Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka after the duo lamented that they were being pressured into supporting Raila's presidential bid.
During Ruto’s tour to Kajiado County on Sunday, October 31, Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta was determined to support the ODM party leader urging the One Kenya Alliance principals to defy the head of state.
Gachagua argued that Ruto allies had survived intimidations adding that the OKA leaders had the capacity to defy Uhuru’s demands.
"Those of us who were in Jubilee were forced to support Raila and we refused. Now the threats have been taken to Mudavadi and Kalonzo. We want to tell them to stay firm. They should not fear,"
“If they become scared what type of leaders will they be? Let them follow our lead,” the legislator advised.
The legislator, who has been an ardent supporter for Ruto also castigated the President for engaging in succession politics.
"When Kibaki's time came to an end, he never gave us a direction to follow. He left silently as he went to retire. We want Uhuru to follow the same lead and follow his predecessor. Let him give us the opportunity to choose his successor," the legislator stated.
On his part, Garissa Township MP Aden Duale claimed that Uhuru was using state powers to intimidate the OKA principals.
"We have heard that the OKA leaders have been threatened until Mudavadi shed tears in Kakamega stating he was being forced, coerced, and intimidated physically, and emotionally through threats so that they support Raila," Duale claimed.
In addition, the former National Assembly Majority Leader alleged that some of the leaders were growing scared to stand up to the President.
“My friend Kalonzo is even scared to speak up because he has been intimidated day and night. We all know that those who are behind all this are the president and his friends famously known as the deep state.
"It is now clear that the 2022 contest will be between Ruto versus the government and president Uhuru Kenyatta's project," Duale alleged.
During a political rally in Kakamega on Friday, October 29, OKA leaders affirmed that they were focused on succeeding Uhuru, claiming that they would not be pressured to support another candidate.
“This habit of people calling others at night and dictating to them on which political coalition to back must end. Let this be noted. Kenyans should be wary of leaders who seek to impose their authority on Kenyans,” Mudavadi stated.
