UDA settles on Wajir County gubernatorial candidate

Mar 30, 2023 - 00:24
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Deputy President William Ruto on Friday, March 25, 2022, welcomed Wajir County Deputy Governor Ahmed Ali Mukhtar to the United Democratic Alliance. Muktar led a delegation of leaders from Wajir County who defected to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance. They were received to the coalition by DP Ruto, ANC Leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford-Kenya counterpart Moses Wetangula. "Congratulations Ahmed Ali Mukhtar on your endorsement as the UDA Gubernatorial aspirant for Wajir County. You are in the winning team.," DP Ruto stated. [caption id="attachment_15193" align="alignnone" width="1280"]Deputy President William Ruto welcomes Wajir Deputy Governor Ahmed Ali Mukhtar to UDA Party at the Karen Residence on Friday, March 25, 2022. |Courtesy| DP Ruto Twitter| Deputy President William Ruto welcomes Wajir Deputy Governor Ahmed Ali Mukhtar to UDA Party at the Karen Residence on Friday, March 25, 2022. |Courtesy| DP Ruto Twitter|[/caption] Leader present included; Nominated MP Nasri Sahal Ibrahim, Former Senator Abdirahman Ali Hassan, the Chairman of the Ogaden Supreme Council Ahmed Hussein and several elders. Mukhtar joins a long list of leaders that have joined the UDA party. On Friday morning, Narok Governor Samwel Tunai officially joined UDA. He was welcomed by DP Ruto the ht party after a meeting at the Karen Residence. "Governor Samuel Tunai brings in valuable leadership experience that will help steer Narok County and the nation to greater heights. Karibu Hustler Nation mheshimiwa," DP Ruto stated. [caption id="attachment_15194" align="alignnone" width="1280"]Deputy President William Ruto welcomes Narok County Governor Samwel Tunai to UDA Party at the Karen Residence on Friday, March 25, 2022. |Courtesy| DP Ruto Twitter| Deputy President William Ruto welcomes Narok County Governor Samwel Tunai to UDA Party at the Karen Residence on Friday, March 25, 2022. |Courtesy| DP Ruto Twitter|[/caption] Omar Haji Salat, a former administrator and former CEO of the Strategic Grain Reserves also joined UDA on Friday. He was endorsed to carry the party's flag in Eldas Constituency, Wajir County. [caption id="attachment_15195" align="alignnone" width="1280"]Deputy President William Ruto welcomes Omar Haji Salat, a former administrator and former CEO of the Strategic Grain Reserves to UDA Party at the Karen Residence on Friday, March 25, 2022. |Courtesy| DP Ruto Twitter| Deputy President William Ruto welcomes Omar Haji Salat, a former administrator and former CEO of the Strategic Grain Reserves to UDA Party at the Karen Residence on Friday, March 25, 2022. |Courtesy| DP Ruto Twitter|[/caption] The Kenya Kwanza Alliance has over the week settled on flagbearers for various seats across the country. According to analysts, the Deputy President is strategising early. Political analyst Herman Manyora termed it a good strategy. He noted that both the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the Azimio La Umoja coalition should take that route. "That is a good strategy. The side that is known for spending will work out the nominations. But there is one side that is not known for spending and if they don't find a way to work out the compromises, then they will lose seats," Manyora stated. "If Raila Odinga does not manage to take charge of ODM and DAP-K in Western Kenya, Kenya Kwanza will beat them. For example in Kakamega, if Barasa runs (Fernandes), another candidate from Azimio runs, Malala will beat them. "Even in Nairobi, Azimio needs to settle on one candidate. If Ngatia runs, and Tim Wanyonyi runs, and Kenya Kwanza fields one candidate, say, Sakaja, they will win," Manyora added. On Wednesday, March 23, the coalition endorsed Hussein Dado to contest the Tana River gubernatorial seat. Dado was the county's first governor before losing to Governor Dhadho Godhana in 2017. [caption id="attachment_15196" align="alignnone" width="1600"]Deputy President William Ruto and Tana River gubernatorial aspirant Hussein Dado during a rally in Tana River on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. |Courtesy| DP William Ruto Twitter| Deputy President William Ruto and Tana River gubernatorial aspirant Hussein Dado during a rally in Tana River on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. |Courtesy| DP William Ruto Twitter|[/caption] "Congratulations Hussein Dado on your endorsement by the people of Tana River as Kenya Kwanza’s gubernatorial candidate. Kenya Kwanza will support you in your bid to tackle the challenges facing ordinary people," DP Ruto stated. The second in command assured the people of Tana River that Kenya Kwanza will nurture, support and protect devolution so that more resources are channelled to marginalised counties. "This will ensure that they realise their economic potential in sectors such as commercial pastoralism and irrigation," DP Ruto stated. On March 23, the deputy president brokered a deal between former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and incumbent, Cleophas Malala. The two leaders, Malala of ANC, and Khalwale of UDA agreed to contest the gubernatorial and senate seats respectively. They will fly the Kenya Kwanza flag in Kakamega County during the August 9 general elections. DP Ruto praised the leaders for the kind of leadership they portrayed, their willingness to compromise for a greater goal, terming it a show of democracy within Kenya Kwanza. [caption id="attachment_15197" align="alignnone" width="1280"]Kenya Kwanza Alliance principals broke a deal between former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and incumbent, Cleophas Malala (right) at the Karen Residence. |Courtesy| DP William Ruto Twitter| Kenya Kwanza Alliance principals broke a deal between former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and incumbent, Cleophas Malala (right) at the Karen Residence. |Courtesy| DP William Ruto Twitter|[/caption] "We salute Senator @KBonimtetezi  for standing tall to graciously cede ground for @Cleophasmalala  to run for the Kakamega Gubernatorial seat. We pledge to work with him — using his passion, experience and rich political networks — to drive our campaigns," he tweeted. "This spirit of consensus showed that Kenya Kwanza Team is what our country urgently requires," DP Ruto added. On March 22, Kenya Kwanza endorsed Patrick Ntutu as the coalition's gubernatorial candidate for Narok County. Ntutu was endorsed during a rally held at Olopirik Farm. DP Ruto, Mudavadi, and Wetangula led other leaders from the coalition in endorsing Ntutu's bid. The second in command thanked a number of leaders who sacrificed their gubernatorial bids to support Ntutu. "We are thankful to Mheshimiwa Soipan Tuya and her Narok West and Narok South counterparts Gabriel Tongoyo and Korei Ole Lemein for their courage in agreeing to vacate their political ambitions to support the candidature of gubernatorial aspirant Patrick Ole Ntutu. "This is a unity move that will give priority to the challenges afflicting Narok County," DP Ruto stated. [caption id="attachment_15198" align="alignnone" width="1504"]Narok County gubernatorial aspirant Patrick Ole Ntutu addresses residents at Olopirik Farm in Narok County. |Courtesy| DP William Ruto Twitter| Narok County gubernatorial aspirant Patrick Ole Ntutu addresses residents at Olopirik Farm in Narok County. |Courtesy| DP William Ruto Twitter|[/caption]

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