Governor Alfred Mutua has dumped Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja coalition party and joined Deputy President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Speaking to the press on Monday, the Machakos governor said his Maendeleo Chap Chap party had signed a cooperation agreement with Kenya Kwanza on Sunday night.
He cited lack of transparency and being sidelined in Azimio la Umoja outfit.
“As a party we have been excluded from Azimio line-ups, campaign programmes and funding. We have also not been shown, or even allowed to discuss what our roles would be after the elections,” Mutua said.
“This lack of clarity plus the sidelining has sent a very clear message to us: Akufukuzaye hakwambii toka.”
Despite years of criticism and attacks, Mutua said he now believes Ruto is the best to liberate Kenyans from poverty.
“Deputy President William Ruto is a good man and he will change this country. Last night we signed an agreement with Kenya Kwanza and here is a copy,” he said.
“Unlike Azimio, here is a document we signed and we know its content … They played us and sneaked a document on zoning. They have been doing nothing but managing us,” he said.
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On the exit clause, he said the Constitution guarantees freedom of association, and “you cannot force people to be in an association they are not respected in”.
Without naming names, Mutua said more parties have indicated they will be on their way out too.
The Registrar of Political Parties, Anne Nderitu, however hinted at the possible party that might exit.
Nderitu on Monday confirmed that other than Mutua’s MCC, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi’s Pamoja African Alliance party, had also written to her office expressing intention to leave the Azimio Coalition.
“I have received only two (requests of parties wanting to leave the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition party); the Maendeleo Chap Chap and the Pamoja African Alliance,” Nderitu said on Citizen TV’s Day Break show.
In April, Mutua had expressed dissatisfaction due to frustrations in efforts to have a copy of the Azimio coalition agreement that was deposited with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
“There is a clear and present danger that aspirants in parties in Azimio will be denied their democratic opportunity to be on the ballot. This we cannot accept,” Mutua said.
Other parties that had in April expressed dissatisfaction were Governor Kivutha Kibwana’s Muungano Party, Narc, DAP-K, Chama cha Uzalendo, Kenya Reform Party, Maendeleo Democratic Party and PPT.
