Roba cites isolation as reason for ditching Azimio for Ruto

UDM party leader and Mandera senator-elect Ali Roba has cited the failure of the Azimio la Umoja coalition to involve them in the matters of the coalition as the reason for opting to join the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

The outgoing Mandera governor earlier today led the elected leaders under his party in meeting president-Elect Ruto at Deputy President's official residence.

Roba who has emerged as the Northeastern kingpin is boasting of two governors (Mandera and Marsabit), two senators (Mandera and Wajir) and seven MPs.

MPs are Umulkheir Kassim (Mandera), Bashir Abdullahi (Mandera North), Kullow Hassan (Banisa), Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis), Mangale Munga Chiforomodo (Lunga Lunga), AbdulEnrahim Haro (Mandera South) and Adan Haji (Mandera West)

Speaking to the Star on phone, Roba while acknowledging that indeed the party has joined the Kenya Kwanza coalition said the move was in the works for some time.

“It is not something we have just jumped into, as a party, we have had unresolved issues with the Azimio coalition over the manner in which it was being run. So yes we have moved to Kenya kwanza,” said Roba.

In a letter to the registrar of political parties dated April 14, this year, the UDM party opposed the gazettement of Azimio la Umoja council members without their involvement in the process.

“The party raises concern that it is not being engaged in critical meetings and decisions which bear great impact on the coalition. the party is yet to formally receive a copy of the coalition agreement documents sent by all parties to the coalition,” the letter read in part.

“We register our concern the United democratic movement was not engaged, consulted, nor involved in the creation of the council and in the nomination of the office bearers to the coalition council and the national executive coalition council. Such appointments should be consultative, democratic and transparent.”

In his message, Ruto saluted the UDM leadership for abandoning Azimio la Umoja and joining the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

With UDM joining Kenya Kwanza Alliance, this means that Ruto will have a majority both in the Senate, National Assembly and the Council of governors.

IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati on Monday declared Ruto the president-elect.

Ruto garnered 7,176,141 votes representing 50.49 per cent of the total vote, while his rival, Raila Odinga got 6,942,930, which was 48.85 per cent of the total vote.