The newly created United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has suffered a setback in the Matungu by-elections.
The party has failed to persuade some of the independent candidates in the by-election race to drop their bid in favor of its preferred candidate.
Sources privy to the matter indicate that the party has made several approaches but all were turned down.
The party associated with Deputy President William Ruto invited a section of independent candidates from Matungu constituency for a meeting in Nairobi over the forthcoming by-election after which they revealed that they had been duped into the meeting.
The candidates have since dissociated themselves from the party and maintained their intention to run independently.
Seven of the candidates in the March 4 elections have blamed former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale for misleading them.
Khalwale is accused of deceiving the public that the candidates had come together under the ‘Hustler unity’ in the by-election.
Former Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committee chairman Khamis Athman Wangara, Mr. Murunga’s widow Christabel, former constituency manager Odanga Pessa, former Ford Kenya party youth leader Bernard Wakoli, Paul Posho, Seif Omoro, and Anzelimo Kongoti have all distanced themselves from UDA.
On January 7, 2021, the team was invited to Nairobi to meet UDA party leaders Johnston Muthama (party leader) and Boni Khalwale (deputy party leader) with promises to get support from the new political outfit.
Each of the aspirants was invited individually and duped that a survey had been conducted and revealed that he was the most popular candidate and best placed to work with the DP.
