A Bungoma County gubernatorial aspirant Zachariah Baraza has castigated the Kenya Kwanza presidential aspirant, Deputy President William Ruto, for shortchanging his race for the county’s top seat.

Baraza accused Ruto of deceit after he favoured the Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka over him and handed him the direct UDA ticket even after he had promised that no candidate will be given preferential treatment.

The aspirant lamented that he has spent a lot of time and resources to popularise his candidature only to be let down at the final hour.

“I have spent a fortune for the last two years. I have been on the ground trying to popularise my candidature as well as the name of the Deputy President. Being shortchanged during 'injury time' is inhumane and political deceit,” Baraza said.

Baraza revealed that his ambitions were watered down on Monday when UDA top officials prevailed upon him to step down in favour of Lusaka.

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Baraza issued a one-week ultimatum to the UDA party to refund the Sh500,000 he paid as the nomination fees for the position of the governor.

“I am giving UDA's top management organ seven days to have the Sh500,000 I paid as a nomination fee for the governor's position to be refunded with immediate effect,” he said.

Regardless of the setback, Baraza has vowed to be on the ballot come August 9, 2022, to contest for Bungoma gubernatorial seat against Wycliffe Wangamati.

“The passion to serve people and not the desire to make money in politics is the driving force behind my candidature,” he added.