Kakamega County United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party members have urged President William Ruto to reconcile with the former UDA Vice Chairperson Seth Panyako.
This is after Panyako who the section of leaders say is the reason UDA became popular in Kakamega County resigned from the party position in May.
“We are in UDA because of Panyako, he brought us together. We are not happy with this disagreement Mr. President, kindly talk with Panyako, we need you in next election,” said Ann.
Moreover, Arnold Shisanya cautioned that UDA’s popularity in Kakamega might go down if the two leaders fail to reconcile.
“He used to give us booklets to market the party. But when he spoke on Finance bill, differences emerged. Without Panyako UDA will die in Kakamega, he should not be used and dumped. There are many leaders in Kakamega who were in both UDA and Azimio, but Panyako was always loyal, let him continue with his job,” Arnold Shisanya said.
A section of the Kakamega UDA party members further urged the party secretary general Cleophas Malala to mediate between the head of state and Panyako.
Also Read: Cleophas Malala Admits He Was Bought into UDA Party
“As the Secretary General, talk to Panyako. It is not good for him to leave the party, yet he has a mass following,” Collins Adolo said.
Nonetheless, Panyako named his stand on the Finance Bill 2023 as the reason for his fallout with UDA party boss President Ruto.
“He (Ruto) told me that he was being pushed by other people like Malala to kick me out of UDA for opposing government policies. I asked him what his plan was, and he told me that things cannot continue like that…that I must leave UDA,” Panyako said in an interview after his resignation.