Days after sealing a deal to have Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale drop out of the Kakamega gubernatorial race in favour of Cleophas Malala, Deputy President William Ruto has brokered another deal.
Taking to his social media pages on Tuesday evening, Ruto announced he had convinced UDA allied Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal to drop his 2022 and support the incumbent Senator Steve Lelegwe to defend his seat.
This was after the second term governor announced that he was going to face off with Lelengwe for the UDA party ticket in the Samburu county Senatorial bid.
However, Ruto said Lenolkulal who recently announced his official entry into the UDA party, will now join Kenya Kwanza Presidential campaign team to drum up support for Ruto's presidency
"welcomed Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal to the Kenya Kwanza presidential campaign team. He has graciously vacated his senatorial aspiration for Steve Lelegwe who will be defending his Samburu seat in the August 9 General Election" stated Ruto.
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This comes at a time when Ruto has been busy preparing his UDA party for the oncoming party nominations slated for Thursday, April 14.
According to nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura, the UDA board will conduct nominations in 12 counties for governor seat, 19 for senate and 27 for women representative seat. The nominations will also see 128 MP hopefuls battle it out for the party’s ticket.
However, the party is expected to give out direct nominations in areas where consensus has been reached between competing candidates.
Already, the second in command has convinced his UDA party aspirant Boni Khalwale to step aside for Cleophas Malala in Kakamega gubernatorial race, as one way of rewarding his ally Musalia Mudavadi and ensuring Kenya Kwanza locks out Azimio team in Western Kenya.
"We have listened and agreed with them. Boni Khalwale has accepted to run for Senator for Kakamega county and ceded ground for Malala to run for Governor for Kakamega," said Ruto when announcing the Malala-Khalwale deal.
