Ruto needs Kalonzo’s voting block to stabilise his gov’t – Senator Maanzo

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has observed that President William Ruto needs the support of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to be able to run his government smoothly.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s Day Break show, Maanzo argued that President Ruto cannot influence parliament to amend sections of the constitution without having a two-thirds majority.

The Senator added that President Ruto needs more numbers in parliament for smooth running of government, hence his need to win more support from the opposition (Azimio la Umoja camp).

“Clearly, President Ruto can not raise 2/3 of MPs or Senators without consulting or getting part of Azimio. It is clear to him that he needs the voting block of Kalonzo to stabilise his government fully,” Maanzo said.

“Ruto and his team know that the election was closely contested, there are many things they can not do with parliament unless they have more numbers.”

On Sunday, the Head of State attended a church service in Kitui County, where he affirmed that he is interested inworking with Kalonzo, but the latter is persistent on being in the opposition.

“I want you to know that I have looked for Stephen (Kalonzo Musyoka), sat down with him…told him ‘here is the government, let us work together’ he told me he wants to try opposition first. So, let him try opposition first then we see where he gets, then we can talk later,” President Ruto said at Kalonzo’s Ukambani backyard.

During the church service, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua also affirmed that the Kenya Kwanza administration was willing to work with the Wiper Party leader, but they “don’t understand him.”

“We are ready for him, we are ready to work with Ukambani but we don't understand your leader. But we still respect and love him,” DP Gachagua said.