UDA leaders in Kirinyaga cry foul after they are told venue for scheduled Ruto-Mudavadi rally is under construction
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leaders in Kirinyaga county are crying foul after they were denied a permit to host their party boss Deputy President William Ruto at the newly constructed Wangu'uru stadium in Mwea Constituency.
The rally in which the Deputy President is expected to attend on Saturday, January 29, will now be held in Thiba ward instead of Tebere ward where it was scheduled to take place prior to the Ministry of Sports directive.
"We made a few calls to various offices and everyone has been taking us in circles. When we contacted the Department of Public works, we were directed to write to the Ministry of Sports who said that construction of the facility is still going on," Governor Ann Waiguru told the media during a press briefing at Sagana.
Waiguru expressed concern over the directive wondering how a stadium in which Mashujaa day celebrations were held last year, is yet to be completed.
"Mashujaa day was held in that stadium and therefore we cannot understand how they managed to reverse the construction and say that it is yet to be completed up to now."
Various leaders had convened a meeting in one of the hotels within Sagana to plan for the Saturday rally which the Deputy President will attend.
The leaders who were present at the meeting include Gichugu constituency Member of Parliament Gichimu Githinji and his Ndia Counterpart George Kariuki.
The two legislators said that despite the restriction, their rally will still go on in Mwea.
"Kirinyaga county is behind William Ruto and I'm sure that he will get more than 90 per cent of the votes in the county," Gichimu said.
The leaders said that they already have a permit to hold the rally in Thiba ward.
"There are leaders in Kirinyaga who think that they can decide which door should be opened or which one should be closed when the bible says that no one can shut a door that has been opened by God," Ndia MP George Kariuki Said.
Also present were the eight MCAs from all the wards in Mwea constituency.
The MCAs were led by Kirinyaga County Assembly Majority Leader Kamau Murango.
"On Saturday, the nation will witness an earthquake, lightning and thunderstorms and we are urging residents to come and welcome DP Ruto, ANC's Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula."
