By Peter Ochieng
Embakasi North MP James Gakuya has threatened to lead a mass walk out from President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
Speaking during an interview on Kameme FM on Tuesday morning, the legislature said he will ‘alight from the UDA bandwagon’ if he is not declared winner of the Nairobi County UDA chairmanship contest.
The party held its grassroots elections in the 85 Wards of Nairobi on Friday last week.
However, results are yet to be officially anounced, after the voting exercice was called off in South B, as a result of violence.
Gakuya faced Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja in the chairmanship contest, with over 500 delagates casting their votes.
Reports indicate that Sakaja is on course to being declared winner. If that happens, as per Gakuyu, he will lead a massive exodus from the ruling party.
“If I lose this seat, it will be obvious that we have no place in this party as a community. We shall go ahead and join a new party,” said Gakuya.
“We have been sidelined for long, our people’s houses are being demolished every day,” he added.
Governor Sakaja reportedly secured 240 delegates slots out of the available 340. He met UDA elected delegates on Monday, urging them to shun divisive politics.
“Let us not let tribal politics divide us. We need to create an environment for everyone to thrive regardless of their tribe,” he stated.
Ahead of the Friday’s grassroots elections, Sakaja claimed Gakuya is being sponsored by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, calling him a project.
“The one I am competing with is not a candidate, he is a project,” he said, exposing what analysts say is infighting within the ruling party.
Sakaja also accused Gachagua of bullying other elected leaders within the party ranks, a character he said the second in command developed after the 2022 polls.