Bahati Member of Parliament, Onesmus Kimani Ngunjiri, has for the first time opened up on his differences with Nakuru Senator and Deputy President William Ruto's confidant, Susan Kihika.
Addressing the press on Friday, June 3, Ngunjiri accused Kihika of destroying the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party from within, citing the bungled party primaries.
The Legislator stated that Kihika's actions have forced many DP Ruto supporters to run as independent candidates even as he stated that he will not be coerced to support her gubernatorial bid.
"Even the DP cannot force me to vote for somebody. I am not a drunkard nor a mad man. Let us be left to choose our leaders independently. There are places where nominations were bungled and people left to stand as independent candidates. You cannot force me or abuse me so that I support you," he stated.
Additionally, Ngunjiri disclosed that the party had made attempts to broker a truce between him and the Senator, but their differences proved to be incorrigible.
"She has really divided us. If you are seen with a particular person then it becomes a problem. She is spending a lot of money fighting everybody. I'm I looking for the governor's seat? Why is she fighting other leaders?
"Who defends the DP more than me here in Nakuru? They are just looking for their votes without campaigning for Ruto. The DP stated that I was the head of the party in the county. Some claim to know more than me yet they came here yesterday. I am an elder," insisted the MP.
Ngunjiri made the statements days after reports emerged that he had endorsed the candidature of the incumbent governor, Lee Kinyanjui, of Jubilee Party.
He stated that he did not endorse the candidature of Kinyanjui. However, he stated that he would not support Kihika because she does not respect him.
"Lee is our friend and he is the governor and we need to respect him. I have endorsed her severally but has she ever endorsed me? The other day she came here and told my constituents to elect the leader they wanted."
Kihika's rivalry with Ngunjiri played out in the better part of yesterday as the Senator called on her supporters to reject Ngunjiri on the ballot.
"What did the MP for Bahati say today? If things are like that, I want to ask the people of Bahati to do the necessary. Is there any problem with that? Let them go home," she stated then.
In recent weeks, cracks within the party in the county have played out even as other leaders blamed Kihika for interfering with the party operations. Before being reinstated as the UDA Naivasha parliamentary candidate, Jayne Kihara accused Kihika of orchestrating her loss in the primaries.
Kihara accused Kihika of supporting her friends at the expense of other leaders.
