According to Tuju, the uproar for the signed document which is at the heart of the disagreement was only for the purposes of benchmarking against the deal they were negotiating with Azimio opponents.
“Some of them were negotiating with the other side and needed this document for purposes of benchmarking, and since we knew this from our intelligence, there was no reason to continue to engage them,” Tuju said.
He then equated the document in question to a marriage certificate, claiming that a certificate itself does not constitute a marriage. Adding that any union can only invite willing parties, and no one can be coersed into joining an engagement against their will.
“A marriage certificate does not make the marriage, it does not matter what is in the document, the document of the coalition is just a document, what is carried to the next level is good will, if they leave a marriage because of a marriage certificate, is that honesty?”Tuju argued
Tuju also dismissed claims that the parties which left Azimio alliance were yet to read the document they signed.
“They know what they signed, and they read, if you tell me you signed without reading, whose problem is that?” He posed.
Meanwhile, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has officially joined the Kenya Kwanza camp, and has vowed to campaign for its presidential flag bearer, Deputy President William Ruto.
While addressing the press at a Nairobi hotel on Monday, May 9, Dr. Mutua stated that his Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) party had sealed the deal on Sunday, May 8 night, and he has copies of the agreement, unlike in Azimio.
Furthermore, the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu on Monday May 9, morning confirmed that Maendeleo Chap Chap, and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi’s Pamoja African Alliance party, had written to her office expressing their intention to leave Azimio Coalition.
“I have received only two requests of parties wanting to leave the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition party: the Maendeleo Chap Chap and the Pamoja African Alliance,” Ms. Nderitu said.
Governor Mutua claimed that MCC had been excluded from Azimio line-ups, campaign programs and funding. Adding that they were not shown or allowed to discuss what their roles would beafter the August 9 polls.
