The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party aspirants from the North Rift Region have challenged President Uhuru Kenyatta to now declare his unwavering support for his long time ally Deputy President Dr William Ruto in his 2022 presidential bid now that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) has fallen .
On Friday, the Court of Appeal upheld the high court decision terming BBI unconstitutional, null and void.
They asked those in the handshake team to stop harassing and intimidating those who are opposed to them, especially from DP Ruto’s camp.
The leaders asked former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to quit active politics and instead assume the role of statesman.
Led by former nominated Member of County Assembly Ms Teresa LoKichu they asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to rescind his decision to back those in opposition and not the one who supported him.
She said that it was wrong for the President to support other people yet they supported him for two elections.
“In 2013, 2017 we supported you and Ruto fully supported us. We voted for you twice and we want you to support him twice .DP Ruto brought all Rift valley votes and looked for votes across the country for the President. Support Ruto for 2022 as he supported you. As Africans, when someone gives you something return a hand,’she said.
They said that the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has not helped Kenyans or Pokots.
“Just return the favor, to show the love for the job he did for you. We don’t care if the handshake team will disintegrate or continue uniting,”she said.
She said that after the two rulings against the BBI, the writings are on the wall that Kenyans are not ready for the Raila Presidency.
“I was as ODM member for ten years and I voted for Raila for ten years but now he should retire peacefully .We need peace in 2022,”he said
She noted that they will now embark on popularizing UDA Party in the region.
“We have accepted UDA as Pokots and we are behind DP,”said Ms Lokichu.
A Chepareria ward UDA aspirant Ben Loyatum said that the recent ruling to halt BBI has put Kenyans to rethink on whom to elect.
“We have benefited from the Uhuruto Government. We have seen new roads and technical training colleges. We don’t want intimidation and short cuts. We shall make sure Ruto becomes the President in 2022.West Pokot and Chepareria in particular is Ruto stronghold,”
he said.
Mr Loyatum said the former Premier should give Kenyans a break adding that they want him to be respected globally like Koffi Annan.
“We will make sure that by October everyone should be in UDA as a registered member in West Pokot,”he said.
Ms Eunice John welcomed the recent ruling on BBI saying that Kenyans were against the rule.
“We refused the BBI but God helped us through judges.We are with Ruto,” he said.