Kenya Kwanza ‘won’t force parties to fold up’
Parties in Kenya Kwanza will not fold to form one entity under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said.
Gachagua said parties in the coalition entered into a pact when they came together, adding that there were no plans to renege on the same.
He was speaking during a joint media interview on Sunday. He urged UDA party Secretary General Cleophas Malalah not to force anyone in Kenya Kwanza to fold up their parties and join UDA.
“We in Kenya Kwanza believe in democracy and will only allow it to thrive,” the DP noted. He said the issue of parties folding was not on UDA leadership agenda, at least for now.
“That’s Malalah’s idea of making UDA a strong party. President William Ruto and I, with our National Executive Council, decided to pick him to be the Secretary General because we really appreciated his qualities, energy, passion and vigour. That’s what we need for a party,” Gachagua said.
He added: “Probably his style is a little bit different. I have discussed with him, we do not want to coerce anybody to fold up. We are contended with the current structure, but if along the way the constituent parties consider that it is desirable to fold up and join UDA, so be it.”
One of the constituent parties in the coalition, Amani National Congress has since dismissed calls to fold up and join UDA.
Party leader Issa Timamy termed the matter as a non-issue and called on the ruling party to concentrate on other pressing issues including the high cost of living and insecurity.
Ford Kenya, also a member of the coalition, has also rubbished the idea of folding, with the party leader Moses Wetang’ula saying his party was in the process of revamping itself in readiness for future engagements.
