Ex-UDA Deputy Chairman's Biggest Regret After Dumping Ruto for Raila

Ex-UDA National Vice Chairman Kipruto Arap Kirwa ( second from left) attending an Azimo rally at Mayuba Stadium in Sirisia, Bungoma County on Sunday, May 29, 2022.

Dennis Nyambane

Despite being part of Raila’s camp, he lauded Ruto’s leadership, stating that the government was well organised.

He, however, blamed the type of leaders aligned with Raila accusing them of being indisciplined and disorganised. 

The ex-UDA diehard also called on every Kenyan to mature democratically, arguing that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was always blamed for election malpractices. 

“In every election, save the  2002 one that Kibaki won, we have vilified the electoral commission, whether Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) or Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC),’ he stated.

Referring to the proposal of the office of the opposition, Kirwa pleaded with the President to involve the opposition in the process.

“If the President is serious about the formation of the office of the leader of the opposition, the opposition must be involved in decision making.

“We have to ensure that the team presented to oversee the next process can be trusted by both sides,” he pleaded.

Kirwa exited UDA on Sunday, May 29, with Narc Kenya party leader, Martha Karua, unveiling him during a public rally in Sirisia, Bungoma County.

He was one of the most experienced politicians in UDA – having served as Cherang’any MP for ten years and as a Cabinet Minister for five years in the late President Mwai Kibaki’s first term.