The United Democratic Movement (UDM) party has ditched Azimio La Umoja Coalition for Kenya Kwanza Alliance which is led by President elect Dr. William Ruto.
UDM leaders including Mandera Senator-Elect Ali Roba, Deputy Party Leader and Marsabit Governor-Elect Mohamud Ali, and Mandera Governor-Elect Mohamed Adan Khalif paid the president elect a visit at his Karen Residence.
“We salute the United Democratic Movement (UDM) leadership for abandoning Azimio La Umoja and joining Kenya Kwanza,” said Dr Ruto.
The leaders were accompanied by Deputy Governor-Elect Mandera Ali Maalim, Wajir Senator-Elect Abbas Sheikh, MPs Umulkheir Kassim (Mandera), Bashir Abdullahi (Mandera North), Kullow Hassan (Banisa), Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), Mangale Munga Chiforomodo (Lunga Lunga), AbdulEnrahim Haro (Mandera South) and Adan Haji (Mandera West).
This comes after 10 independent MPs-elect also joined the Kenya Kwanza Alliance yesterday. President Ruto who addressed the Kenya Kwanza elected leaders’ caucus yesterday revealed that the 10 law makers will work with the Kenya Kwanza leadership to deliver development to Kenyans.
“Out of 12 elected independent Members of Parliament, 10 have joined our team,” Dr, Ruto said.
The move by the MPs has strengthened the Ruto led coalition’s chances to win the Speaker of National Assembly and two control parliament.
Azimio alliance bagged the majority seats at the National Assembly where they led with 162 seats while Kenya Kwanza got 159 seats but has since increased it’s number by 18. Kenya Kwanza had 22 governors, 24 woman representative seats and 24 senate seats.
Azimio coalition managed 21 governor seats, 20 woman representative and 23 senate seats in the just concluded August 9 election. But the President elect is poaching their affiliates when they are still deciding whether to challenge Dr. Ruto’s win in court or to accept and move on.
The Raila Odinga led outfit is also planning to front Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka for the position of the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Kalonzo had been promised the position of a chief minister in Odinga administration but they were beaten by President-elect Dr. William Ruto forcing him to settle for less. Azimio bosses coerced him to take position because he once served as the deputy speaker between 1988 and 1992.
