The Kenya Kwanza coalition leader who is also the President-elect Dr William Ruto continues to welcome more members to their side.
This is even before their win is affirmed, should their Azimio competitors decide to move to the Supreme Court to challenge the presidential election results.
But even before that, Dr Ruto seems to already be making moves aimed at ensuring he has the numbers to push his Bottom Up agenda at the National Assembly.
When August 9, 2022, general election was concluded, Azimio had the majority of MPs at 162 to Kenya Kwanza’s 159 – but that has since changed in a matter of days.
This is after the President-elect welcomed 10 independent MPs as well as 7 others that had been elected on a United Democratic Movement (UDM) ticket – a party under Azimio.
And on Thursday, August 18, and Friday, August 19, 2022, Dr Ruto announced that more MPs had joined his side.
The MPs that joined Kenya Kwanza on Thursday afternoon, aside from those in UDM were Guyo Waqo of Moyale constituency elected on a UPIA ticket and Wario Guyo Adhe (North Horr) elected on a KANU ticket.
On Friday, the President-elect welcomed Yakub Adow Kuno MP-elect for Bura Constituency, on UPIA Party and Abdi Ali Abdi (MP-elect Ijara, National Agenda Party of Kenya).
This simply means Kenya Kwanza now has a majority both in the National Assembly and Senate, with more MPs and Senators expected to join the Kenya Kwanza team.
Azimio cry as Ruto raids them
But while Dr Ruto is welcoming other leaders to his side, the move has been received with criticisms from politicians allied to Azimio.
Coalition’s presidential running mate Martha Karua speaking during an event on Friday said the defection of some MPs was the manifestation of the President-elect’s true colours.
“His (Ruto) true colours are showing; a lack of respect for the rule of law and a deficit of democracy in his actions… It is premature for somebody to start trying to disorganize political parties unlawfully,” said the Narc Kenya party leader.
A similar sentiment was shared by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Presidential secretariat in a statement signed by secretariat spokesperson Makau Mutua.
“We are shocked that DP William Ruto, who harbours dreams of leading Kenya, is already engaged in acts of impunity and disregard of the rule of law,” said Makau Mutua in part of the statement.
