Ruto Ally Accuses Azimio of Buying MPs for Ksh20 Million Each

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has claimed that the Azimio la Umoja coalition led by ODM leader Raila Odinga is buying members of parliament to join their movement.

Speaking during a panel on Citizen TV on Thursday, February 3, 2022, Cherargei alleged that the Odinga-led team is buying lawmakers for as much as Ksh20 million to join their camp.

The senator's allegations were occasioned by a claim by Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi that Deputy President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA), and now, the Kenya Kwanza Alliance ferry crowds to their rallies.

Atandi alleged that the second in command pays people to attend his rallies, attracting a response from Cherargei.

The Nandi Senator flipped the accusations on the Azimio la Umoja movement, citing an incident where videos were shared online of indicating that the coalition had ferried people to their Murang'a and Kajiado rallies.

"Azimio are the ones that ferry crowds to their rallies. We have seen even videos online where buses broke down while ferrying people to and from Murang'a, even the rally in Kajiado," Cherargei stated.

He proceeded to claim that the coalition is also buying MPs.

"Azimio right now is funded by the state. They have money. Right now they are even buying members of parliament. The transfer window is hot.

"I am told the least price for an MP in the market is Ksh20 million to join their camp," Cherargei alleged.

The Nandi senator further dismissed the notion that all failures of the Jubilee government should be on DP Ruto. He argued that DP Ruto has been just but a principal assistant of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

"The DP is just an assistant acting on the directive of the president. From 2013 to 2017, he did his job. Even if William Ruto wanted to connect electricity from one corner of the country to another and the president does not assent to it, it as good as zero," he argued.