DP William Ruto responds to Maina Kamanda with a hard tackle offering him "pesa ya wazee"

DP Ruto responds to Maina Kamanda with a hard tackle

Tony Mukere

April 3, 2019 5:31 PM

Jubilee war getting heated

DP William Ruto responds to Maina Kamanda with a hard tackle offering him "pesa ya wazee"

Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday responded to Jubilee nominated Maina Kamanda who has recently led a campaign against the DP’s 2022 presidential campaign.

Ruto chose Kamanda’s home county of Murang’a where he mischievously promised that all wazees would be incorporated in the government’s cash transfer programme for the elderly – “including Maina Kamanda”.

The deputy president spoke when making reference to the government’s Sh9 billion cash transfer programme aimed at cushioning Kenyans over the age of 70 years from poverty.

"Wazee wote, na sasa tumesema hakuna kubagua. Zamani tulikuwa tunasema wengine tutachuja lakini wazee wote, hata kina Kamanda, wanaweza kuwekwa kwa hiyo maneno waweze kupata cash transfers kwa sababu tumeamua kama serikali," the DP stated.

A spot check by pulseive.co.ke revealed that Kamanda is aged 67 and would not qualify for the programme.

Raila Odinga

MPs Maina Kamanda (Nominated), Former Dagoreti South MP Dennis Waweru, Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange and Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu at a past event Pulse Live Kenya

However, the reference to the nominated MP was another confirmation of the tensions in Jubilee with one team supporting Ruto, and another perceived to be close to President Uhuru Kenyatta supporting the handshake deal involving ODM Leader Raila Odinga.

On Sunday, Kamanda led a delegation of current and former Parliamentarians in Murang’a where they vowed to block Ruto’s candidature in 2022.

“Watch this space. This is going to change the country's political terrain for good,” Kamanda stated.

Others who accompanied the former Starehe MP included former Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe, area Senator Irungu Kang’ata, Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, Peter Kenneth, among others.

ODM MPs including Homa Bay Women Rep Gladys Wanga, Ruaraka’s T.J Kajwang, and Saboti’s Caleb Amisi were also present at the Murang’a function.

Tony Mukere