UDM Officially Joins Kenya Kwanza Alliance Leaving Azimio La Umoja Coalition

After announcing on Thursday that it was leaving the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) party has now formally negotiated an arrangement with the Kenya Kwanza alliance.

Kenya Kwanza co-principals, led by President-elect William Ruto, came to an agreement to have UDM join their camp as they attempt to build the next government at a joint meeting held on Saturday in Karen.

Ali Roba, the leader of the UDM in Mandera, and his party were welcomed by Ruto, who assured them that they would have the same rights to association as the other members of the alliance.

“Kenya Kwanza has grown…over time many members have joined, today UDM has joined and like any other members before you, UDM will become an equal member like all the others,” said Ruto.

“Kenya Kwanza is broad enough to accommodate all of us. Karibuni sana.”

He similarly commended the move by UDM, further pointing out that he (Ruto) was the founder of the party in the late 1990s after he fell out with KANU.

“I am actually the founder of UDM, thank you for bringing the party home. When we were harassed out of KANU, that is what we did,” Ruto noted.
The leader of the UDM party, Roba, thanked Kenya Kwanza for agreeing to join them in building the upcoming administration.

He also criticized the Azimio political group, charging its leaders with operating without transparency, citing this as the reason UDM relocated to Kenya Kwanza.

“The opaqueness with which Azimio has operated is what will lead to everybody leaving. I am honoured to be accepted back. Today we have signed something we know,” Roba said.

“My advice to Azimio is that if you were not able to earn that trust, don’t embarrass yourself by discussing a document which is not with us.”

This follows Azimio’s team criticism of Ruto over what they termed as going against the law by wooing members-elect to his fold.

“We are shocked that DP William Ruto, who harbors dreams of leading Kenya, is already engaged in acts of impunity and disregard of the rule of law. He must suffer from gross ignorance of our laws,” stated Raila Odinga Presidential Campaign Secretariat Spokesperson Prof. Makau Mutua in a statement on Friday…