Kiambu: Why Wajungle abandoned Ruto

• Jan 20, 2022

By Justus Karanja

Thika Town Member of Parliament Wainaina Wajungle (pictured) is the latest leader to quit Deputy President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA),

Wajungle, who was elected as an independent in the 2017 General Election, has given signals he will contest for the Kiambu gubernatorial seat as an independent.

He is, however, under pressure from his supporters to join the Azimio la Umoja led by ODM leader Raila Odinga.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, who hails from Gatundu South in Kiambu, is backing the ODM leader for presidency in this year’s General Election.

Wajungle followed in the footsteps of Kirinyaga Woman Representative Purity Wangui Ngirici who decamped from UDA early this month.

Sources claimed Wajungle was angered by the Deputy President's unmet promises to his constituents, financial demands and fears of a skewed UDA nomination process.

There are reports Ruto had requested Wajungle, who is eyeing Kiambu governor seat, to deputise either Senator Kimani Wamatangi or former governor Ferdinand Waititu.

But chances of Waititu being cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to contest for the governor’s seat are slim since he was impeached by the County Assembly and the verdict upheld by the Senate.

Waititu is also facing fraud charges.

Wajungle, sources added, was obliged to dive into his own wallet to pay millions committed by the DP to women and youth groups as part of his empowerment initiative in Thika and Gatundu North, where he hosted the DP.

Wajungle has also commented, stating that he has resolved to forge on and will not back down, stating that "I am not frightened of anyone since it is the people of Kiambu who will vote for their candidate, not a clique of a few individuals."