‘President Ruto asked me to leave UDA party’ – Panyako
Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party vice chairman Seth Panyako now claims that President William Ruto called asking him to leave the party.
According to Panyako, the President wanted him out of the party for opposing government policies, including the three per cent housing levy proposal in the Finance Bill 2023.
"I received a call from the President at around 7.20 pm on Friday. He told me that I was opposing the housing levy. I told him that I lead the workers and my main job is to stand with the workers," he said.
"He told me I should leave the leadership of the UDA party...The party's disciplinary committee should have written a letter to me explaining my mistake. This would have given me a chance to defend myself."
He however says despite announcing his resignation from the post, he still holds the position according to the Registrar of Political Parties.
He says he will only tender his official resignation letter after getting an official list from the Registrar of Political Parties showing the current officials of the UDA party.
"I didn't leave UDA to join any other political party. I left UDA to fight for justice and stand with common Kenyans. I left on my philosophical grounds," Panyako said.
Panyako's resignation
Panyako announced his resignation from the UDA party during a burial ceremony of former politician Joseph Hamisi held in Kakamega on Saturday, May 26, 2023.
He indicated that he was exiting the party due to his opposing stand on the Housing Fun and the rise in the cost of living.
"I talked to the President at 7 pm and it seemed that I could not continue with my role given my opposition to the housing fund and the high cost of living. Therefore, on behalf of my late friend. I want to announce that I have resigned from my position at UDA," he stated.
However, according to UDA Secretary-General Cleophas Malala, Panyako did not hold any official position in the party.
"This is the UDA leadership. Seth Panyako resigned from nothing," Malala said.
Panyako is the current secretary general of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN).
