Controversial Vice Chairman of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, Seth Panyako, claims that President William Ruto ordered him to leave the governing party through the party registrar.
This follows Panyako’s departure from the party on Saturday, which he declared in response to what he saw as the Kenya Kwanza administration breaking its campaign-era pledges to Kenyans.
In a news conference on Tuesday, Panyako made a U-turn and claimed that the party’s senior brass had forced him to leave, adding that the way it was handled was against both party rules and the law.
He continued by saying that the party’s disciplinary committee should have called him instead, explained his offences to him, given him the chance to respond, and then made a judgement.
“On Friday at approximately 7:20 p.m., the President phoned to inquire about me and why I opposed the housing levy. I explained to him that since I am a manager, supporting my team and the average Kenyan is what matters most to me.”
“He said he was under pressure from others, including Malala, to expel me from UDA because I disagree with the views of the government. When I questioned him about his strategy, he said that I had to quit UDA because things couldn’t go on as they were.”
Panyako claims that despite making his departure official and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), which would subsequently reveal a new leadership structure, he is still technically the vice chair of the UDA party.
In addition, he refuted a social media post by UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala on Saturday in response to his claim that he was never even a party official.
Tomorrow, he said, “I will write to the Registrar of Political Parties to request an extract outlining the new leadership of UDA. Then, I will write to officially announce my resignation.”
“The political parties that exist in Kenya are yellow and do not have institutional structures. If the party’s owner doesn’t like you, he or she may kick you out.
Additionally, Panyako denied rumours that he left the party because he was left out of the Cabinet nominations.”I withdrew to maintain what I stand for regarding life; the job of a CS is too small; it’s a job designed for people in inferior ranks,” he said.