Kiunjuri Speaks on Rejecting DP Ruto's Money & Offer for Running Mate

Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has detailed the state of his relationship with Deputy President William Ruto and allegedly rejecting a guaranteed running mate offer from the DP.

The Service Party (TSP) leader on Sunday, August 15, 2021, maintained that his decision to form his own party and not join the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) would ensure a voice for the people of Mount Kenya in a DP Ruto government.

Kiunjuri stated that he would not follow anyone blindly for the sake of money, choppers or a running mate position as some of the lawmakers from Central Kenya have.

"If I decided to join UDA today, I have a guaranteed number nine jersey for the striker position or the number five as a defender. I would not lack a position in the party.

"In Ruto's government, the lowest slot I'd get is a ministry position. So, our people in Mt Kenya must ask themselves whether Kiunjuri, who has been in politics for over 25 years, would be foolish enough to turn down a deputy president position and instead toil organising the region into a political party - spending a lot of his time and money when he can easily get money and even choppers from Ruto?" Kiunjuri posed.

He further asked members of the public to be wary of the DP's talk of not forming alliances and instead build UDA into a national party.

"A national party needs at least four elections to rise to that level. Look at our history with NARC, PNU, and Jubilee. Anyone who says he does not need to work with regions should be viewed suspiciously because even in churches, the moderator works with church elders,"  he said.

Despite the remarks, Kiunjuri maintained that he still supports DP Ruto to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.

"I have never changed my position that I support Ruto. My position is that as we give him the cow that produces milk, he must leave alone our heifers. Imagine the DP has almost 70 MPs in Parliament and he is being harassed every day, what will happen when we have a number 2 who lacks a strong team behind him?" He posed.

He defended his recent meetings the likes of NARC party leader Martha Karua, Gatundu South member of Parliament Moses Kuria, noting that they are focused in uniting the people of Mt Kenya ahead of the 2022 general elections.

"Whether Kieleweke or Tangatanga, we are holding meetings as leaders of the Mt Kenya region. So, you may find Kieni MP Kanini Kega at our meeting next week or National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi in our meetings as well.

"It's a forum where we speak on matters regarding the interests of the Mt Kenya region," Kiunjuri said.

The TSP leader had been considered as one of the frontrunners to deputise DP Ruto in 2022.