Former Bahati Member of Parliament Kimani Ngunjiri on Thursday, January 12, claimed that some leaders within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party played a part in his defeat during the August 2022 election.
Ngunjiri, who lost in his reelection bid, accused Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika of combining forces with his opponent and eventually influenced his defeat to current MP, Irene Njoki.
Speaking on K24 TV's breakfast show, the outspoken politician claimed that the circumstances that led to his loss left him doubting the unity within the party, adding that it was one of the factors why aspirants preferred to vie as independent candidates.
Ngunjiri and Kihika had a frosty relationship towards the August General Election, with both accusing each other of working with opponents.
Further, Ngunjiri urged Kenyans to shun the tradition of voting along party lines and instead embrace independent candidates in future elections.
"That is why you are seeing more independent candidates, the number is going to be higher because the issue of the party is a big problem. Many people will go independent because they do not want to fight," he stated.
"The same woman who was nominated to vie as a governor joined my rival and worked underground fighting me, what is the use of being in that party."
However, he maintained that he was still an ardent supporter of President William Ruto and he was expecting to land a plump job in the near future.
Ngunjiri's stance regarding harmony in the UDA party was also corroborated by former Party Vice Chairperson Kipruto Arap Kirwa- who reiterated that he left the party owing to "toxicity" in its inner circles.
"I left UDA partly because there was a lot of toxicity within the inner circle," he stated.
His statements came days after a section of leaders from Murang’a accused Water Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome of actions that risked costing UDA the Kandara Parliamentary seat.
Murang'a Woman Representative Betty Maina urged the Water CS to concentrate on her new assignment instead of meddling with village politics.
However, UDA Secretary General allayed fears of division within the party and maintained that the party's unity was still intact.
