With about two months to the August 9, polls, The Service Party leader Mwangi Kiunjuri now wants the Mt Kenya region to vote for whoever they want for the presidency.
In what is emerging as possible simmering cracks in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, Kiunjuri told the Mt Kenya region to focus on the leadership abilities of the aspirants and not the parties they are vying on.
“People from Laikipia County and Mt Kenya region, elect leaders and not parties, Elect the president you want and look for the leaders who you will vote for, for the other positions," Kiujuri said in an interview with Inooro TV on Wednesday evening.
The remarks are a departure from the earlier stance he demonstrated while addressing gatherings and even press conferences.
The Former Agriculture CS has been vocal in rooting for Deputy President William Ruto's presidential bid.
His party being a member of the TSP party meant that Kiunjuri would use the TV platform to urge the Mt Kenya region to vote for Ruto instead of leaving the options open for his supporters.
Could it be signalling a fallout in the Kenya Kwana Alliance?
On Tuesday, Kiunjuri raised concerns over being sidelined in the running of affairs in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Kenya Kwanza comprises 14 political parties, including Ruto's UDA, Musalia Mudavadi's ANC and Moses Wetangula's Ford Kenya as principal partners.
He said some parties have been kept in the dark and ignored in carrying out campaigns, something he warned could jeopardize Ruto's bid for the top seat.
Kiunjuri said it beats logic for coalition principals to campaign for candidates allied to their parties yet the alliance is approaching the August polls as a united front.
“When you are in a coalition, you need to work as a team. You cannot pretend in the day that you are in a coalition and at night, you are not in a coalition,” Kiunjuri said.
“I cannot go to Nyandarua today and ask the people of Nyandarua to support a TSP candidate when we have ANC, Ford Kenya, Tujibebe and CCK candidates. I would be a hypocrite.”
The Star has also learnt that a storm is brewing in the Kenya Kwanza camp as partner parties fight over zoning and cash for campaigns.
There are concerns that UDA, Ford Kenya and ANC are receiving preferential treatment in the coalition in the running and coordination of campaign funds running into millions of shillings.
There are also reports that only a few individuals are entitled to choppers acquired for the presidential campaigns.
Multiple sources told the Star that key party leaders from affiliates and their officials are being forced to defray expenses incurred during the campaigns instead of using the money from the campaign kitty.
Kiunjuri on Tuesday announced that his party will be carrying out 30-day parallel campaign rallies to boost his party popularity and drum up support for Ruto.
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