Kiraitu’s DEP Joins President-elect Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza

The newest member of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance is the immediate former Meru governor and the party leader of the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) Kiraitu Murungi.

President-elect William Ruto welcomed Kiraitu together with a number of prominent figures and more than 40 Members of County Assembly (MCAs) from the counties of Meru and Embu on Friday at his Karen residence.

“We welcome the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) to Kenya Kwanza. Their resolve to work with us is an indication that leaders agree that the interests of Kenyans override our personal or party interests,” DP Ruto tweeted.

Received the leadership of DEP at the Karen Office, Nairobi, led by former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi. pic.twitter.com/TAQsUxZkRi

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) September 2, 2022

Before the elections on August 9, the former governor endured a barrage of abuse from UDA supporters and the party wave in Meru.

Dr Ruto pleaded with him to leave Raila Odinga’s Azimio La Umoja coalition, but Kiraitu persisted.

Kawira Mwangaza (Independent), who was initially written off as a political newcomer, unexpectedly defeated Kiraitu in the gubernatorial elections.

Ms Mwangaza joined Kenya Kwanza right away.

Read: Kiraitu Bags Job Days After Losing Meru Governorship

Ms Mwangaza, who had been serving as Woman Rep since 2017, pulled off a surprise by polling 209,148 votes, beating former senator Mithika Linturi, who received 183,859 votes, and Kiraitu 110,814 votes.

With 13 seats to UDA’s 12, DEP hoped to win the seat and assume control of the county assembly after Nyaki West ward elections were postponed due to irregularities in the ballots.

Frederick Mubichi (UDA) won the seat, nevertheless, giving the two parties a tie of 13 seats apiece.

It was a rematch of the 2017 elections, in which the Jubilee Party and the Party of National Unity (PNU), led by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, tied with 13 seats each.

DEP secured 13 MCA seats, UDA (13), Jubilee (six), PNU (five), Independent (five), National Ordinary People’s Empowerment Union (Nopeu) (two), DP (one) and DPK (one).