National Assembly Speaker, Justin Muturi, has joined the Kenya Kwanza alliance.
Muturi, a presidential aspirant under the Democratic Party (DP), was received by Deputy President William Ruto and his allies in a function that was held at a Nairobi hotel on Saturday, April 9.
The outgoing National Assembly Speaker joined other like-minded parties including the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of DP Ruto, Amani National Congress (ANC) of Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya of Moses Wetangula among others.
The Kenya Kwanza leaders signed the agreement which allowed Speaker Muturi's Democratic Party to join the coalition.
DP Ruto thanked Muturi for joining Kenya Kwanza and resisting influence from senior political heavyweights who were pushing him to join their teams.
"This is a very monumental day, a culmination of months of intense consultations. I am a very proud Kenyan that today we are joined by the Democratic Party. The party was started and led by Kenya’s finest economist, Hon. Mwai Kibaki," the DP stated.
“It's a pleasure to work with Justin Muturi on the same side of the political equation," he added while welcoming the Democratic Party leader to the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
On his part, Speaker Muturi stated that he was instructed by his party to consult with all people of goodwill and other party leaders to see through that the Democratic Party's agenda is prioritized before joining any coalition.
"Today I am happy because my party has given me that backing and I indeed want to say to my brothers who believe in this conversation that we cannot be if the others can't. There can't be a Kenya for different people. Kenya is big for all of us," Speaker Muturi stated.
"I have travelled through this country and I can confirm the heartbeat of many Kenyans is with this party. We as DP are happy to fully associate with the Kenya Kwanza alliance."
The Speaker was critical of President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2021 and political pundits opine this could be the reason he opted to join DP Ruto's faction.
He questioned Uhuru’s directive on the Covid-19 protocol while presiding at the closing ceremony of the Counties Public Service Boards meeting in Mombasa on Friday, October 29.
Muturi stated that what the President did when announcing the easing of the Covid-19 protocols was to ignore matters that are so important to society and prioritise politics.
The Speaker mentioned that it is unfair to restrict church attendance but allow full capacity in public service vehicles, bars and political rallies.
