Embattled UDA Vice Chair now claims Ruto doesn’t have time for divergent views
Embattled United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Vice Chairman Seth Panyako has accused President William Ruto of having no time for divergent views in his government.
In an interview with Spice FM, Panyako attributed his unceremonious exit from the ruling party to his divergent views from what the President wants him to preach.
"He (Ruto) told me "you are opposing all the programmes of the government including the housing levy and VAT on fuel". He told me "it is not tenable for you to continue being an official of the party (UDA) when you are opposing the programmes of the party". But I've not (officially) resigned due to other issues that emerged," Panyako said.
Panyako says that before the election, he was a close ally of President Ruto. However, after the elections, Panyako says he has not spoken to the President and the call asking him to resign was the first one since the 2022 August polls.
"He was calling to ask me to leave his party because I do not agree with programmes of the government. I don't think the President has time for any divergent views. I don't think he listens to anybody. I think he listens to himself," Panyako said.
Panyako accused the government of lying to Kenyans during the 2022 campaigns, saying it has reneged on its campaign promises, especially on lowering the cost of living.
"When we campaigned in 2022 we rode on the issue of lowering the cost of living. One of the things we promised was to remove the 8 per cent VAT on petroleum products. Today we are telling people we are not going to lower, we are going to double it. We neer told workers we are going to do affordable housing using their money," Panyako added.
"We deceived Kenyans. Politicians must stick to what they told the people. As Panyako I will not support (such)."
Six 'cartels' surrounding Ruto
Panyako also claims that there are around six people from one ethnic community surrounding the President, who are calling the shots on all government affairs.
"There are about six guys from one ethnic community around the President who are pulling strings in government. They want to manage each and everything. They even want to know which cleaner is being employed from where. They want to have a hand on everything," he said.
According to Panyako, when the LapFund chief executive officer David Koros resigned, the board appointed Galm Jaldesa before the annual general meeting. However, the six intervened forcing the board to appoint a new CEO.
"The chairperson of our board received threats, I was there when he got the calls and we had to reverse our decision on appointing the CEO," he said adding that the chairman later resigned due to threats.
Panyako now says that LapFund’s board cannot meet because they lack a CEO and a chairperson.
