Moses Kuria: Why I Chose Ruto Over Raila

Chama Cha Kazi Party leader Moses Kuria at Thika Stadium, on Saturday, February 19, 2022.
Chama Cha Kazi Party leader Moses Kuria at Thika Stadium, on Saturday, February 19, 2022.
Courtesy

Gatundu South Member of Parliament, Moses Kuria, has explained why he chose to work with Deputy President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza battalion over former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his Azimio La Umoja group.

Speaking during a televised interview on Friday, March 4, the Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) party leader explained that Ruto and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) had changed their modus operandi, a change he termed as welcome.

Previously, the outspoken second term lawmaker had accused Ruto and his UDA team of applying dictatorial tendencies while seeking partners ahead of the August polls. UDA had initially asked political parties that wanted to work with it to wind up and join it. This move did not sit well with many parties including Kuria's Chama Cha Kazi.

From left: Party leaders Moses Wetangula (Ford-Kenya), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and William Ruto (UDA) at a rally in Mumias, Kakamega County on Tuesday, February 8, 2022
From left: Party leaders Moses Wetangula (Ford-Kenya), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and William Ruto (UDA) at a rally in Mumias, Kakamega County on Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
DPPS

"Kenya Kwanza has changed and they have welcomed everybody. They have accepted that their allies will join the alliance through different parties," Kuria explained.

The lawmaker further stated that there was no problem with him holding talks with Kenya Kwanza days after meeting with leaders of the One Kenya Alliance (OKA), a political faction that is more inclined to joining Raila's Azimio. 

He, however, added that he was still talking to the OKA principals to change their minds and join Ruto's team. OKA's Kalonzo Musyoka - who doubles up as the Wiper Movement party leader - has, however, been on record saying that he would not join Ruto's camp. 

"People are taking their political stand and it is not a matter to be ashamed of. We have decided to work with Kenya Kwanza and it is my hope that we shall have two factions mainly Azimio and Kenya Kwanza.

"If it is possible, those who are inclined towards Azimio should entice others. I would like to talk to them so that they come to Kenya Kwanza. In the end, we shall all tell people where we belong," he expressed.

The move by Kuria surprised many in the political sphere. During his thanksgiving service at the Thika Stadium on February 19, the Legislator hit out at UDA, claiming that some of the party members were cautioned against attending his function.

He gave the example of Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro who was to be the Master of Ceremony (MC) but gave the function a wide berth.

"Some people thought this was a political meeting and UDA held a meeting and told its members not to attend. It is only the Legal Affairs Secretary of UDA, my good friend lawyer Edward Mureu who has chosen to come," noted Kuria at the time.

However, the move by Kuria has been termed as inconsequential by Jubilee Party Secretary General and Ndaragua MP, Jeremiah Kioni. According to Kioni, Ruto was the mastermind behind the formation of CCK and other parties in the Mt Kenya Region.

He opined that CCK was part of a grand plan to bring in more members to UDA.

"Even the formation of CCK was a ploy to get Mt Kenya to UDA. When the DP realised that he cannot get most of the votes from the region because he is a smart political, they decided to for three parties and one of them is CCK," Kioni stated.

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