Moses Kuria takes a swipe at UDA after Kabogo, Wamatangi clash in Kiambu

The Deputy President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza alliance’s Mt. Kenya caravan is now facing a storm following a public clash between Kiambu County Governor aspirants Kimani Wamatangi (UDA) and William Kabogo (Tujibebe Wakenya party).

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, who is also the leader of the Kenya Kwanza affiliate party Chama Cha Kazi (CCK), has chimed in on the incident terming it as regrettable.

Kuria, in a Facebook post later Wednesday evening, accused the UDA party leadership of sidelining aspirants seeking the Kiambu Governor’s seat on relatively smaller parties within the larger Kenya Kwanza alliance.

According to Kuria, who is running for the seat on a CCK party ticket himself, MCAs and MPs who have been perceived as leaning towards these said aspirants have been subjected to constant threats over their stands.

“What happened in the Hustler Express caravan in Kiambu today is regrettable. The ugly altercation between Kabogo and Wamatangi is regrettable. I will not apportion blame to any of the 2 gentlemen but I can relate with Kabogo's pain,” wrote the MP.

“For 3 days the UDA leadership has been meeting UDA MP and MCA candidates to plot how to embarass Kabogo and myself during the tour. MCAs and MPs who associate with us were warned of dire consequences.”

Kuria now says they will be presenting their grievances to the Kenya Kwanza principals, led by DP Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), and Moses Wetangula (Ford-Kenya).

“This chicanery is not healthy for our fledgling alliance. It is imperative that we live with not only the letter but also the spirit of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance,” he said.

“Otherwise it will be tantamount to politics of conmanship and deceit. We will be raising these concerns with our alliance principals as provided for in the Alliance instruments.”

Chaotic scenes marred a Kenya Kwanza rally held in Kiambu County on Wednesday with Senator Kimani Wamatangi and former Governor Kabogo going at each other's throats.

DP Ruto's running mate Rigathi Gachagua had taken Kenya Kwanza's campaign trail to the county as the outfit continues to drum up support for its presidential candidate ahead of the August polls.

In typical fashion, affiliate parties under the Kenya Kwanza umbrella with roots in Kiambu, such as Kabogo's Tujibebe Wakenya party among others availed themselves for the rally.

A standoff however soon ensued between the former governor and the incumbent Kiambu Senator after Wamatangi allegedly refused to hand over the microphone to Kabogo to address area residents.

In his address, Wamatangi castigated Kabogo for allegedly attempting to intimidate him into withdrawing his governor bid while urging area residents to only elect UDA candidates into office.

"I'm rallying you to vote me as governor on UDA and I will deliver on the promises that I make. I can also lead Kiambu people and I won't be intimidated at all," said Wamatangi.

In response to the blatant jibes, Kabogo, who claimed to have predicted that Wamatangi would give him a hard time at the rally, grabbed another microphone and hit back at the Senator.

According to Kabogo, Wamatangi's feathers are ruffled because he purportedly realises that he cannot trounce him in the race for Kiambu's governorship.

"Kama wewe ni mwanaume kuja hapa," Kabogo quipped.

The situation was made worse by the pair's supporters who engaged in a shouting match which disrupted the rally, all under the watchful eye of Gachagua who opted not to interfere in the squabble.