October 3, 2024

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Kanu, UDA groups clash over theft of Ruto’s wheelbarrows

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The rivalry between Kanu and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) played out in Baringo county with a group allied to the Deputy President William Ruto’s party accusing the latter of stealing its wheelbarrows in Baringo.

Ruto’s supporters had bought and erected the wheelbarrows in various strategic positions in Kabarnet town to popularise UDA in the region.

 The wheelbarrows, the symbol of the DP’s ‘Bottom Up” Hustler narrative, however, went missing under mysterious circumstances which has not gone down welll with UDA supporters who accuse their Kanu rivals of sabotage.

 Baringo is the political base of Kanu chairman and Senator Gideon Moi. “We believe this is a wider scheme by our rivals who are beginning to panic because of UDA’s growing popularity in the region,” said Nicholas Koros, a UDA mobiliser in the county.

 The Independence party supporters have, however, denied the claims. North Rift Kanu regional coordinator Paul Kibet accused UDA supporters for being behind their own woes.

 “Kanu is too busy to engage in such sideshows,” he said. “We have information that those stealing the wheelbarrows are UDA members who were not paid for their services. They should leave Kanu alone and sort out their mess,” added Kibet.

Supremacy battle He said Kanu was engaged in their own activities adding that they will soon roll out a series of meetings to market the party in the region.

A spot check by People Daily revealed that the wheelbarrows which had been painted in UDA yellow and black colours had been placed in strategic places including the main market, at the city clock, County Assembly and Kabarnet main bus stage.

Baringo county is expected to be a political battle ground between Ruto and Gideon who have been embroiled in a protracted battle of supremacy for the control of the Rift Valley vote.

The Kanu boss is a member of the One Kenya Alliance(OKA) that brings together Amani National Congress chief Musalia Mudavadi, Wiper Party chief Kalonzo Musyoka and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetangula.