Tujibebe Wakenya party leader William Kabogo has for the first time opened up on reports of joining Azimio after falling out with Deputy President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Speaking to NTV on Monday, June 20, the former Kiambu governor affirmed that he had not thought about joining the Raila Odinga insisting that he would try to work out their differences within the Kenya Kwanza camp before bolting out.
While he stated that they would wait for Ruto and the UDA party luminaries to address their concerns he insisted that they would leave the coalition if the letter was not responded to.
Kabogo explained that he had made a decision to support Ruto's presidency and would only revert his decision if he felt that things would not go his way in the coalition.
"We have stated that we want the coalition principals to sit down and have discussions on what is happening to us because it seems that the plan of Gachagua is to popularise only UDA yet we are in a coalition.
"If they do not respond then we will take it that they agree with us. We shall continue as a party because we did not fold up. I have not personally thought of joining Azimio. I am not a leader that changes the stand easily," he stated.
Additionally, he maintained that Mathira Member of parliament Rigathi Gachagua was the cause of their frustrations in the Ruto lead faction citing his calls for six-piece voting of UDA candidates in Kiambu county.
Kabogo cautioned the Kenya Kwanza team to be weary of their campaign strategy in the region stating that the selection of Gachagua as the running mate had made their popularity in the region dip.
The former Kiambu governor stated that Azimio was gaining popularity in the region with the selection of Martha Karua as the Azimio running mate.
"To some extent the selection of Martha Karua has shifted the Mt Kenya vote but not by a big percentage. I can put it at 3 per cent.
However, the selection of Gachagua as the running mate had caused some problems and if we do not say it then we will be pretending. Many people may fear saying it but it is out there," he stated.
Kabogo's sentiments came after Gatundu South MP, Moses Kuria in an interview with Citizen TV, stated that affiliate parties within the Kenya Kwanza faction had been sidelined urging the coalition partners to convene a meeting to discuss the way forward on issues affecting them.
This was after the two party leaders announced that they had withdrawn from the Kenya Kwanza campaigns until their issues were addressed.
"When it comes to planning meetings in Mt. Kenya, they are held exclusively by UDA and we are locked out, for me, it is sad and strange."
"Even when it comes to the campaign team called Hustler Express which is my brainchild when they come to Kiambu, we are locked out," he stated.
