ANC Mt Kenya Leaders Lament Being Sidelined by UDA

President William Ruto (right) and CS Musalia Mudavadi (center) and Susan Nakhumicha of health.
President William Ruto (right) and CS Musalia Mudavadi (center) and Susan Nakhumicha of health.
Photo
Musalia Mudavadi

Mt Kenya Leaders allied to the Amani National Congress (ANC) Party have claimed that the Kenya Kwanza Coalition is gradually sidelining them.

The leaders, while addressing the press on Sunday, indicated that despite boosting the coalition with over 300,000 votes, they were yet to receive a share of 30 per cent of funds disbursed to the party.

They claimed that they had worked consistently to boost their coalition's image in Mt Kenya during campaigns that led to the August 2022 victory.

Margaret Tongai, the Deputy Party Leader of ANC, categorically stated that the coalition had left out the party, associated with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

Musalia Mudavadi
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi speaking at the German National Day of Unity Celebrations 2023 in Nairobi on October 3, 2023.
Photo
Musalia Mudavadi

"We need these people. We need to lay structures because we voted for Kenya Kwanza so much but I can categorically say that we are left out by the Kenya Kwanza Government," Tongai told the press.

"When they were giving out the 30 per cent to ANC, the Mt Kenya region was not captured and I say that honestly."

The deputy party leader, as a result, asked President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua to recognise their efforts.

"Our President and those concerned including the Deputy President, we need ANC to be seen as people on the ground," she added.

Daniel Waithumbi, the chairperson of ANC's Murang'a County wing, corroborated the claim noting that the ruling coalition was yet to fulfill its promises.

"We are part of Kenya Kwanza and did a lot of work during the elections. However, we have seen that Kenya Kwanza has not fulfilled the promises it made to us as ANC," Waithumbi stated.

Wrangles within the ruling party have been simmering since the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) first floated the idea of having all affiliate parties fold to join the ruling party headed by President William Ruto.

Initially, Cleophas Malala ditched ANC and joined UDA where he serves as the Secretary General. 

Then, the ruling party hinted at asking other parties to fold, a move that sent ANC spinning which resulted into a crisis meeting.

"I want to make it clear that the Amani party is not going to fold. we are an independent party that is part of the Kenya Kwanza coalition. That discussion is not important now," ANC party leader Issa Timamy declared in March last year. 

"There was an agreement that was signed between the various constituent parties and Amani party is a major stakeholder," Timamy reiterated.

UDA Secretary-General Cleophas Malala speaks during a consultative meeting with the Party's 47 County Coordinators in Nairobi on May 18, 2023.
UDA Secretary-General Cleophas Malala speaks during a consultative meeting with the Party's 47 County Coordinators in Nairobi on May 18, 2023.
Photo
Cleo Malala