Editor's Review

"Nilimuuliza Rais nifanye nini? Akasema mambo haiwezi kuendelea hivo itabidi uondoke kwa uongozi wa UDA."

Former UDA party Vice Chair Seth Panyako now says President William Ruto forced him to exit the party.

Panyako who announced last week Saturday that he had ditched the UDA party and its leadership said the president called him and implored him to vacate office for opposing the party's interests.

According to Panyako, the President told him there is no way he was going to be an official at the UDA party and at the same time oppose the Finance Bill 2023.

"Nilipokea simu kutoka kwa Rais siku ya Ijumaa mwendo was 7:20pm. Akaniambia wewe unapinga maneno ya housing levy and mambo mengine ambayo inafanya gharama ya maisha ya Kenya kwenda juu. Nikamuambia mimi ni kiongozi wa wafanyikazi na lazima nisimame na wao. Akaniambia anasukumua na wengine na akina Malala kwa nini mimi napinga serikali na naendelea kwa uongozi wa chama," he said.

Former UDA Vice Chair Seth Panyako. PHOTO | COURTESY

""Nilimuuliza Rais nifanye nini? Akasema mambo haiwezi kuendelea hivo itabidi uondoke kwa uongozi wa UDA. Nilikubali nikaondoka kwa chama."

Panyako ditched UDA during the burial of politician Joseph Hamisi in Kakamega on Saturday.

"So today (Saturday), on behalf of my friend (Amisi), who used to say things as they are, I announce that I have resigned from the UDA leadership position and that I have decamped UDA party," he added.

Amisi is the elder brother of Higher Education PS Beatrice Inyangala.

Panyako on May 14 criticised Kenyans over what he termed as betraying Kenyans after being elected President.

He said it was saddening that the President promised to change the economy only to end up doing the opposite.

"We promised Kenyans that we shall lower the cost of doing business, we shall lower the eight per cent VAT on petroleum; today the VAT has been increased while the VAT for helicopters has been removed, how many Kenyans own helicopters?" he asked.