Leaders of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) have urged President William Ruto to reject any attempt by the Azimio leaders to enter the government through a backdoor.

They made those remarks during the Kirinyaga UDA Party's delegates meeting in Sagana, which is one of several meetings being held across the country in preparation for grassroots elections scheduled for August.

The UDA leaders, including Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, and UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, stated that the government will not be coerced into negotiations with opposition leader Raila Odinga.

They alleged that Raila had developed a "clever way of getting into governments even after being defeated in polls through street protests and blackmail," but this tactic would not succeed this time.

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The leaders also criticized Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua for supporting the Azimio demonstrations in the country, stating that she had lost her direction and was not concerned about the safety of Kenyans and their property.

Waiguru, who is also the Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG), stated that Martha did not help Azimio secure votes even in her home village in Kirinyaga during the last general elections.

"Martha failed to deliver for her Azimio Party in the last general elections, she lost at her polling station, even some of her relatives did not vote for her," Waiguru said.

According to the UDA leaders, there will be no Azimio demonstrations in Kirinyaga because people are occupied with development issues and fully support Ruto's efforts to revive the economy.

"In Kirinyaga we have said there is no demonstrations, we support the President and those who think they can get into government through backdoor should forget it,"she said. 

Mbarire, who is also the UDA Party National Chairperson, claimed that the Azimio demonstrations were no longer peaceful and urged President Ruto to remain firm and safeguard Kenyans and their businesses according to the constitution.

She said that the Mount Kenya region firmly supports the Kenya Kwanza government and would not be influenced by Karua to support Azimio demonstrations.

Mbarire said Raila was using the demonstrations to blackmail Ruto's administration into yielding to share power like in the previous instances.

"using the demonstrations to threaten and blackmail the Ruto administration into talks so that he can get into power like it happened with Presidents Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta," Mbarire said.

UDA leaders during the party's delegates meeting in Sagana. PHOTO/COURTESY

UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala called on the opposition leader to retire from politics, stating that Kenyans were fed up with his "retrogressive leadership."

Malala also claimed to have written to the Registrar of Political Parties, requesting that any further distribution of political parties funds to ODM be stopped until it repairs UDA party offices that have been set ablaze by ODM supporters during the demonstrations.

Malala further stated that Raila and his party must take full responsibility for the torching of UDA's Kisumu and Siaya county offices during the demonstrations.

"We have written to the Registrar of Political Parties asking her to withhold ODM funding until the burnt offices are rebuilt,"  Malala said.

He acknowledged President Ruto's efforts to empower women to assume national leadership positions in the country.

UDA Treasurer Japhet Nyakundi, who is also the MP for Kitutu Chache North, urged Kenyans to embrace peace and shun demonstrations.