Kenya Kwanza senators rule out Ruto, Raila power sharing deal

Kenya Kwanza senators led by Tana River's Danson Mungatana and Samson Cherargei (Nandi) address the media at Parliament Buildings on July 20, 2023. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Kenya Kwanza senators have said there will be no power-sharing deal between President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The fifteen senators who addressed Journalists at Parliament Building in Nairobi on Thursday claimed that the three days of demonstrations were aimed at pushing the President to accommodate the former Prime Minister in government.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said that the demonstrations are a well-scripted attempt by Raila to intimidate Ruto to accommodate him in government.

He noted that the opposition leader's trick has worked for the previous administrations but this time round he will not be successful.

“The current demonstrations have flopped since Raila intended to push the government to the wall so that together with other Azimio principals they can find slots in government which is not going to happen since they lost elections and should accept that Ruto is the new President,” said Cherargey.

Nominated Senator Veronicah Maina said that Azimio was taking Kenyans in cycles after they realised that Raila's claims that their election victory was stolen did not hold any ground.

She accused the opposition of taking advantage of the high cost of living to hoodwink Kenyans into protesting against the government.

Maina maintained that the high cost of living has been there since the previous administration and it was wrong for the Azimio principals who worked with former President Uhuru Kenyatta to turn around and lay the blame on President Ruto who has been in power for less than one year.

The Nominated Senator said that Kenyans will be proud of the day demonstrations will be peaceful and there will be no hatred between two neighbours supporting rival political parties unlike at the moment when political differences meant animosity.

Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana said that Kenyans were tired of demonstrations that were only aimed at spoiling the image of the country and majority of the public were peace-loving and wanted solutions to the challenges they are facing so that they can take care of their families.

“Nobody is above the law anyone no matter their stature in society who wants to push the country to anarchy should be aware that President Ruto will not allow that to happen under his watch, we cannot allow the destruction of the country which we have built for the last sixty years,” said Mungatana.

Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei called on Kenyans to shun the antics being used by Azimio with the intention of causing chaos saying that the high cost of living cannot be brought down even if there were demonstrations on a daily basis but through hard work by citizens.

Sigei suggested that the only way that Azimio leadership would be able to address their grievances is through the bipartisan talks which they abandoned despite the President expressing willingness to listen to their demands.

Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli said it was disturbing that when they were in Parliament discussing matters of national importance their colleagues were out there mobilising for demonstrations.

“In the Senate, we have been discussing some important Bills that touch on some of the areas represented by our Azimio colleagues but it is sad that they are not in the House to make their contribution and would only come to raise their reservation at a later date,” said Wakoli.

Embu Senator Alex Mundigi claimed that it was obvious that the Azimio principals have started campaigns for the 2027 General Elections less than one year after they lost the election despite the support they got from the previous regime and should accept there is a government in office.

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago alleged that the money used to fund the demonstrations was stolen from the state coffers during the Jubilee administration and this was a case of corruption fighting back.

Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu called on the youths in the country not to accept to be misused to serve the interests of selfish politicians.