Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has lost another Mt Kenya Politician after the exit of Kirinyaga Woman Representative, Purity Ngirici.
On Wednesday, January 5, 2022, former Igembe North Member of Parliament, Joseph M'Eruaki, announced his exit from UDA for Mwangi Kiunjuri's The Service Party of Kenya (TSP).
M'Eruaki bolted from UDA joining a growing list of politicians and aspirants leaving the party allied to DP Ruto over disputes on mergers between the 'Wheelbarrow' party and smaller parties.
Kiunjuri officially received M'Eruaki who has declared his interest in reclaiming the Igembe North seat.
M’Eruaki pledged to launch a well-planned campaign to defeat Richard Maore Maoka in the August 9 elections.
The former Legislator served in the 11th Parliament but lost his seat to Jubilee Party's Maore in the 2017 election.
UDA has experienced political blows in Mt Kenya after Ngirici announced she will be leaving the party, with Gatundu South MP, Moses Kuria, stating that he would not fold up his party to join the DP's party.
Ngirici on Monday, January 3, 2022, reclaimed her office and other campaign machinery after her exit from the party.
She also removed UDA branding materials from her campaign machinery including her public address truck and personal vehicles.
"In 2022, I will not stand with any political party. I will seek to be elected as a governor, as an individual, and I'm confident that I will sail through,” the Woman Rep stated.
The Woman Rep expressed concerns over the nomination process in UDA claiming that the Ruto-led party had been hijacked by officials who wanted her to forgo her ambitions of becoming the governor in favor of the incumbent, Anne Mumbi Waiguru.
Ngirici further indicated that she would no longer campaign for Ruto in the presidential race - urging her supporters to choose freely any candidate they deem fit.