Kabogo stops campaigning for Ruto as Moses Kuria toes line
Tujibebe Party leader William Kabogo has cut ties with Deputy President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza alliance after weeks of a standoff.
Kabogo and his challenger - hopeful Kiambu governor Moses Kuria of Chama Cha Kazi - had been embroiled in a political supremacy tussle with UDA’s top leadership over the oppression of their parties to the advantage of Ruto’s preferred candidates.
The two had been seeking an address by Kenya Kwanza principles who they had requested to organize a meeting to deliberate on their complaints and chart a way forward.
However, Moses Kuria ended hostilities with UDA as he joined the alliance's deputy presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua on his campaign trail in Nakuru on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Kabogo campaigns solo
While Kuria rejoined the UDA campaign caravan, Kabogo campaigned alone in several parts of Kiambu on Wednesday.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Wednesday night, Kabogo said he had stopped campaigning for Ruto and that he now tells locals in Kiambu to vote for their own preferred presidential candidates.
“Life has to go on. I am now focusing on my campaign for Kiambu Governor. There are several presidential candidates and some of these things are a blessing in disguise. I was in Githurai today, I asked them to vote for their preferred candidate but vote me in as the governor,” he said.
The former Kiambu governor further lamented that small parties from Mount Kenya region were being sidelined in Kenya Kwanza campaigns.
“As small parties in Mount Kenya Region, we are not included in the planning of campaign activities. The campaigns also drum support for UDA only. Even the Deputy President-designate campaigns for UDA, and not Kenya Kwanza coalition,” he added.
He further expressed regret for joining the Ruto-led coalition.
“I am not surprised because I know most politicians in Kenya are deceits. They see others’ mistakes, not themselves. People talked to me about joining this coalition but I insisted. It was a coalition of convenience," Kabogo lamented.
“I have moved on as the party leader of Tujibebe. I have not spoken to Chama Cha Kazi’s Moses Kuria in the last two days. I don’t know his moves. We imagined it would go smoothly,” Kabogo added.
