Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairperson Johnson Muthama has reacted to the escalating wrangles inside the party.
In a statement on Sunday, June 9, 2024, Muthama said he was dumbfounded over reports of tribal realignments inside the party, which he says was founded to cure tribalism.
“The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) was formed to end tribalism which had characterized our political landscape for decades but I am dumbfounded by the recent happenings,” Muthama stated.
Muthama, now a member of the Parliamentary Service Commission, has in the recent past been calling for a united UDA party amid reports of a fallout between President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
“The Kenya Kwanza administration was formed on the foundation of national unity devoid of political deceit and President William Ruto, his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua and other leaders came together for the sake of achieving this,” Muthama said on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
UDA wrangles
Gachagua, in what seems to be a recoil strategy, has been earnestly pushing for Mt Kenya unity, a move which has ignited infighting within the political outfit.
Speaking on June 6, 2024, Gachagua said that his unity agenda is not based on tribal lines.
“When we call for unity of this region, it is not against anybody. There are people confusing our unity agenda with tribalism, they get it wrong,” Gachagua stated.
He emphasized that the purpose of uniting the region is to ensure that the Mt Kenya area can effectively advocate for its fair share of national resources and maintain its relevance in the country’s political landscape.
“Far from it, people want unity of purpose so that we can effectively push for our fair share of the national cake and relevance in the national political discourse. If we are not united, we will not be strong,” he explained.
The infighting, now pitting close allies of Ruto and Gachagua, has roped in Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport), Moses Kuria (Public Service) and Aisha Jumwa (Gender).
Other senior UDA members prominently featured in the wrangles include Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and Kapseret MP Oscar.
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