Deputy President William Ruto has lost yet another ally from the Rift Valley region.
This is after Baringo County Gubenitorial aspirant Richard Koech formally announced his departure from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
After hours of consultations with his delegates on Monday, 28th February 2022, the County Assembly Clerk settled to run on Isaac Rutto’s Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) ticket during the upcoming August polls.
Speaking after the meeting, Koech revealed that the fear of being rigged out during upcoming UDA party primaries pushed him to seek greener pastures elsewhere.
He, however, retaliated that he has no bad blood with Ruto and wishes him all the best in his presidential ambitions.
According to local political analysts, Mr Koech’s gubernatorial bid is much helped by the fact that out of the four candidates who have declared their interest in the Baringo Governor seat, not only is he the youngest and most energetic.
At 44 years, Mr Koech has been involved in matters of good governance, local governments and devolution for the last 16 years and is well versed in administration and management in the public sector and control and accounting of public resources being an auditor by profession.
The news comes just hours after UDA’s National Treasurer Omingo Magara announced his exit from the party.
While addressing the media, Magara attributed his move to a lack of transparency and democracy in the party.
“There are new developments that render my candidature on the party ticket impossible. I am going to talk and find new political suitors with who we share interests,” he said.
Magara is said to be eyeing the Kisii gubernatorial seat.
A few days ago, Mara MCA Tipapa Kirrokor, who aspires to be the next Narok West MP, also defected from the party and joined Azimio la Umoja team.
Kirrokor, who was elected on an Independent ticket, together with a host of his supporters defected the party on allegations that the party leadership had favourite candidates in the upcoming nominations.
