The People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) has withdrawn its candidate in the Kiambaa parliamentary by-election following talks with Deputy President William Ruto.

PEP leader, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, said the party decided to withdraw its candidate in favour of Ruto’s UDA for the sake of uniting the ‘Hustler Nation’ team.

Kuria ceded to the DP despite his party’s emphatic wins in the Juja parliamentary and Gaturi wards by-elections, where he beat the ruling Jubilee Party candidates.

Kuria will now back UDA candidate John Njuguna Wanjiku in the July 15 poll as it emerges that that was the plan all along and the PEP candidate was only meant to confuse Jubilee.

“PEP’s message of hope and renewal has been endorsed by the voters of Gaturi Ward in Murang’a on 15th December, 2020 and Juja constituency on 18th May 2021. We wanted to present this message for approval by the people of Kiambaa Constituency on the 15th July,” said Kuria in a statement.

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William Ruto and Moses Kuria. PHOTO/COURTESY

He added, “However, this did not go down very well with my colleagues particularly Rigathi Gachagua and Kimani Ichung’wah. Yesterday I held extensive discussions with my boss and friend H.E Dr William Ruth on this matter. To make my two colleagues happy and above all for the unity of the Hustler Nation, PEP will NOT be fielding a candidate for the Kiambaa by election.”

He apologised to PEP members, candidate Raymond Kuria and Kiambaa voters for the move to withdraw from the race that promises to be yet another bruising battle with Jubilee Party.