•Kabogo explained that the secrecy in the Azimio la Umoja coalition pushed him to the DP's camp.
•He said that he would need to have the DP's promise in writing ahead of the August 9 polls.
Image: DOUGLAS Okiddy:
Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo opened up about his decision to support the candidature of Deputy President William Ruto under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, March 22, in Nyeri, Kabogo explained that the secrecy in the Azimio la Umoja coalition pushed him to the DP's camp.
The Tujibebe Wakenya party leader narrated how he was not given any answers when he asked about the plans Azimio la Umoja had for the vote-rich Mt Kenya region should it win the August vote.
Additionally, he noted that he was also left in the dark on the discussions the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was having with the Head of State.
"I have asked questions and they have not been answered. I asked Azimio about their plan for Mt Kenya and the things they discussed with Uhuru as he exits and they were silent. They did not want to speak about their plans," Kabogo said.
The Kiambu governor aspirant further detailed the discussions he had with the DP, stating that he pushed for the coalition to adopt the one man, one shilling formula proposed in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) in the allocation of funds to the devolved unit.
Despite being told that it was impossible to fully adopt the model, Kabogo said that he was promised that it would be used to allocate some funds to the county governments.
"I went to Ruto and asked the same question and I told him that one man one shilling would go a long way for the region. He answered that the model would hurt many counties, but promised me that additional money would be allocated to the counties in his administration and it would be shared according to population."
However, Kabogo insisted that he would need to have the DP's promise in writing ahead of the August 9 polls.
"I want it in writing and we have agreed. If he doesn't put it in writing, then I will change my mind."
He further stated that it was not a guarantee that he would support the DP, adding that he would change his mind if circumstances changed.
Kabogo will battle it out with Ferdinand Waititu (former Kiambu governor), the incumbent James Nyoro, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina, Senator Kimani Wamatangi and Kiambu County Assembly Speaker Stephen Ndichu for the seat.
Two women including Dr Juliet Kimemia and Mwende Gatabaki have also thrown their hats in the ring.