Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja Blames Ruto’s Inner Circle for UDA Woes and Humiliating Ol Kalou Defeat
The loss in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, has sent shockwaves within the ruling party, with leaders openly questioning the party’s strategy and conduct.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Senate Deputy Majority Leader and Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja Keroche has blamed the woes facing the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the humiliating defeat in the Ol Kalou by-election on a powerful clique around President William Ruto.
The Senator warned that UDA was fast losing its popularity due to the arrogance, chest-thumping and opulence displayed by the clique, saying it is time President Ruto reconstituted his inner circle before the party collapses ahead of 2027.
Last week, UDA was humiliated by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) in the by-elections despite spending millions of shillings to woo voters. The loss in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, has sent shockwaves within the ruling party, with leaders openly questioning the party’s strategy and conduct.
Speaking in Naivasha on Monday, Karanja claimed that voters had no problem with the UDA candidate in the Ol Kalou by-election but voted against the opulence, violence meted against them, arrogance and name-calling from the UDA leaders who campaigned in the region.
“It’s time that the President reconstituted his inner circle as the current ones are tarnishing his name and are responsible for the loss in Ol Kalou,” she said.
The Nakuru Senator, who is known for her candid views, claimed that many leaders are now reconsidering their support for UDA due to the arrogance of the powerful clique surrounding the Head of State. She said UDA was once the most popular party in the country, but the mess caused by the small circle of leaders has made many elected leaders shy away from being associated with it as the country heads to the 2027 General Election.
“UDA was the most popular party in the country but due to the mess caused by this small circle, many leaders don’t want to be associated with it as we head to the elections,” she said.
She condemned the political violence, voter bribery and use of goons by leaders during the campaigns in Nyandarua. According to her, some of the leaders were openly bragging about how much money they had to buy votes while others decided to use uncouth and insulting words against other leaders, including former leaders, which angered voters.
“Some of the leaders were openly bragging about how much money they had to buy votes while others decided to use uncouth words against other leaders,” she lamented.
At the same time, Karanja hit out at the Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja over the rising goon culture in campaigns and political meetings across the country. She claimed that despite the goons being unmasked and captured on camera in Ol Kalou, the CS has failed to act, a move that was eroding investor confidence and peace in the country.
“The CS had promised to make sure these goons are arrested but he has failed to act and it’s time he resigned if he can’t act,” she said.
While condemning the attack on journalists during the Ol Kalou by-elections, the Senator warned that the country risks sliding into anarchy if the goon culture is not tamed. She claimed that some of the criminals who caused chaos in Ol Kalou were ferried from Nakuru by elected leaders who instead of supporting the youth are using them to cause chaos against their fellow Kenyans.
“Some of these criminals were ferried from Nakuru by elected leaders who instead of supporting our youths are using them to cause chaos against their fellow Kenyans,” she said.
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