Murang’a: You’re matangari, UDA tells ANC and Farmers Party

• May 6, 2022

Murang’a: You’re matangari, UDA tells ANC and Farmers Party

By Paul Munene

Email:thingiragema@gmail.com

Deputy President William Ruto’s (pictured with Mudavadi and Wetang'ula) United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has likened Amani National Congress (ANC), Farmers Party and other affiliate party to matangari (tattered clothes).

The UDA officials in Murang’a also urged the electorate to vote for their candidates and ignore those from affiliate parties.

But the remarks did not go down well with ANC and Farmers party, who in a statement dated Thursday, May 5, warned that some UDA aspirants who held a meeting in Murang'a county and urged voters to adopt the famous six-piece voting pattern were working against the interests of the Kenya Kwanza coalition that brings together UDA, ANC, Ford-Kenya and other parties.

The two seemingly aggrieved parties took issue with officials who had attended the event organised by UDA Secretary of Legal Affairs Edward Muriu for asking voters to disregard other parties, which constitute the Kenya Kwanza alliance.

The parties claimed the strategy was detrimental to Ruto's campaign to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He (Edward Muriu) led the meeting in addressing the media where they insisted that voters should vote a six-piece in favour of UDA terming the other parties in Kenya Kwanza as 'Matangari' (which means tattered clothes.

"These are derogatory and shameful remarks that are against the spirit of Kenya Kwanza as demonstrated by the principals... Such reckless statements negatively affect the candidature of the Kenya Kwanza Presidential candidate, Ruto to the advantage of our opponents as it could lead to voter apathy," read the statement in part.

The two parties further demanded the officials be compelled to withdraw their utterances publicly to restore the integrity of the party.

"We hereby demand an immediate public withdrawal of these remarks and sentiments by the UDA Party and clarification for the Kenya Kwanza supporters that these sentiments do not represent the official position of UDA Party and that six-piece voting pattern means voting any Kenya Kwanza Coalition party candidates," added the statement, signed by Farmer Party chair Irungu Nyakera and ANC Secretary General Simon Kamau.