•Receiving the Farmers Party at his Karen residence in Nairobi, Ruto said Kenya Kwanza had been in consultation with the leadership of the new members.
• Party leader Irungu Nyakera said their main agenda is improving the welfare of farmers.
Image: BEN NDONGA
Deputy President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza Alliance has received a boost after the Farmers Party joined the formation.
The development comes after a move by Kadu Asili party leader Emmanuel Nzai to decamp to Ruto’s UDA party, which is an affiliate in the Kenya Kwanza
Farmers Party’s move now puts in doubt the future of the One Kenya Alliance.
The party was one of the signatories of the Oka deal that was sealed on March 11 by Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Martha Karua (Narc-Kenya), Gideon Moi (Kanu) and Cyrus Jirongo (NDP).
As the party joined Kenya Kwanza, Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua signed a deal with Azimio la Umoja.
The Oka parties, Wiper and Kanu, have signed a deal with Azimio as individual parties.
Receiving the Farmers Party at his Karen residence in Nairobi, Ruto said Kenya Kwanza had been in consultation with the leadership of the new members.
“I want to welcome them to the winning team. Farmers Party was in a different formation but they have decided to join Kenya Kwanza,” Ruto said.
“This is the home of the Farmers Party. Bottom-up will never be complete without them.”
He said the party focuses on farming activities which are in line with the Kenya Kwanza agenda.
“They want good prices for produce, value addition, improved productivity, elimination of cartels and improving access to markets internationally and locally. That is where we converge,” Ruto said.
Farmers Party leader Irungu Nyakera said their main agenda is improving the welfare of growers.
“It is about yields in agriculture, markets both locally and internationally and at the right prices and getting rid of thugs, crooks and criminals in the sector,” Nyakera said.
He said the trickle-down economic models being proposed by other formations does not work for farmers.
“The people at the bottom are the farmers. That is why we believe your bottom-up economic model is the best for farmers,” he said.
Nyakera said they had signed an agreement with Oka but decided to opt-out.
“We have looked around and feel where our people are is where we want to be,” he said.
“Once you form the government, take good care of farmers’ interests.”
He said poor people are those who cannot afford medicine and those whose kids are sent home for lack of school fees, and most of them are farmers.
“If we put money into their pockets, then this issue will be solved,” he said.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said agriculture accounts for 40 per cent of direct jobs.
“Farmers are now very well represented in Kenya Kwanza. We will synchronise our ideas with those of farmers,” he said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris