On January 30, 2022, Mwangi Kiunjuri, the leader of The Service Party (TSP), addressed the media to clarify the party's position on joining the newly formed Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Kiunjuri, a former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, emphasized that TSP had not engaged in meaningful negotiations with Deputy President William Ruto or the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
"You already know who my friend is, but we've never had any serious discussion with him. I have not discussed anything with UDA on the way forward and we said clearly that this kind of discussion will only ensure if we respect each other, that anyone who wants to discuss with TSP must acknowledge that our party is a strong party if there is no respect to each part TSP is ready to go independent," Kiunjuri stated.
The clarification came in response to Jubilee Vice-chair David Murathe's comments that TSP had joined the Azimio la Umoja coalition, which is allied with ODM leader Raila Amolo Odinga.
"We are disturbed that some people have released statements on behalf of TSP, suggesting we are in talks or have joined Azimio. I want to make it very clear that we've never had talks with Azimio or any of their leaders, we've never opened that chat with them and we are not ready in opening any conversation with any party for now," Kiunjuri remarked.
Just a week prior, Kiunjuri announced his candidacy for the Laikipia East parliamentary seat in the August 9 elections, promising to complete development projects that stalled during his tenure between 1997 and 2012.
