DEP party leader Kiraitu Murungi (centre) is joined by party officials and delegates during the launch. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]
Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has urged political parties to get into coalitions to boost their chances of forming the government next year.
Speaking during the launch of his Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) at the Bomas of Kenya yesterday, Kiraitu said the space for mega parties is shrinking and time for coalitions was ripe.
“It is time for us as a country to accept the reality of our political future of coalition governments like the case in Germany. Political parties are necessary and DEP is our vehicle for articulating our own interests,” he said.
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Kiraitu said Kenya was too diverse to be ruled by a single political party.
“Given the ethnic structure and demographic equation of our country, no single political party can gather the required 50 per cent plus one votes and win any election in the first round,” he said.
The governor said the party would articulate the interests of the people of his region.
“We are entering a season of political bargaining and negotiations and we will not be left out. We should join a coalition with like-minded parties so that we can also sit at the negotiation table. Our party will be guided by our own interests and not those of others,” he said.
He said DEP party would push for allocation of more resources to counties through increment of equitable share from 15 per cent to 35 per cent, financial empowerment of women the youth and people living with disabilities.
“We are not here to come and cry about the past but to refocus and redefine our political path into the future,” he added.
