By Salim Mutuma
Azimio la Umoja Presidential candidate Raila Odinga has been dealt huge blow after United Democratic Movement (UDM) leaders in Mandera, Marsabit and Wajir defied his stance on last Tuesday’s elections and joined Kenya Kwanza outfit of President elect William Ruto.
UDM Leader and Outgoing Mandera Governor and Senator elect Ali Roba with his troop met Dr Ruto in Karen on Thursday where several governance issues were discussed.
“We salute UDM leadership for abandoning Azimio la Umoja and joining Kenya Kwanza,” Dr Ruto shared.
Among the leaders were accompanied Mr Roba were Marsabit Governor elect Mohamud Ali and Mandera counterpart Mohamed Adan Khalif as well as MPs Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), Umulkheir Kassim (Mandera), Adan Haji (Mandera West), Bashir Abdullahi (Mandera North) and Mandera South’s Abdul Haro.
Mr Roba said the move was prompted by isolation in the Azimio coalition.
Joining Kenya Kwanza, he said, was to earn recognition and respect and not about sharing of government positions.
“The least expected in partnerships is respect. We have been struggling to fit within Azimio but we became the unwanted guests…The country must move on,” Mr Roba shared on Twitter.
UDM Party bagged seven MP, two Senators, two Governors and 34 MCA seats in the last Tuesday’s elections mostly in Marsabit, Mandera and Wajir counties.
This comes a day after Dr Ruto’s longtime critic and Tiaty MP elect William Kamket (KANU) congratulated the outgoing Deputy President on his controversial win which he said was out of sheer hard work.
“Congratulations to President-Elect William Ruto. This election was a marathon. No one can run against a Kalenjin man in a marathon and expect to win. Hard work pays,” Mr Kamket shared.
Mr Odinga has already trashed the results by IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati and vowed to challenge them in Supreme court.
According to IEBC, Ruto won with 7, 176, 141 votes while Mr Odinga got 6, 942, 930.
