Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has revealed he tried to woo Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula to join Deputy President William Ruto's camp.
Speaking in Bumula on Sunday, Khalwale said the two refused to join Ruto's team despite him explaining to them why it will be hard for them to clinch the presidency in 2022.
Both Mudavadi, a former vice president and Moses Wetangula, a former powerful minister, have declared interest in President Uhuru Kenyatta's succession battle.
However, according to Khalwale, the two do not have the strength to run a formidable presidential campaign. While Wetangula has never been on the ballot, Mudavadi tried his luck in 2013 where he emerged third on the race.
''My two brothers refused, insisting that they must be on the presidential ballot come 2022 but after weighing their strength and rating them, they are very low when it comes on presidential campaigns,'' said Khalwale.
Prior to his defection to Jubilee on Friday, Khalwale had been summoned by the Ford Kenya disciplinary committee. He said that he did not make a mistake by joining Ruto's team, making reference to former Luhya kingpin Masinde Muliro.
''If I made a mistake by abandoning Ford Kenya for Jubilee, then our Luhya kingpin Muliro also made a mistake to ditch Kadu for Kanu,'' said Khalwale.
He said Dr Ruto is at pole position to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, adding that there is a need for the Luhya community to back him for the sake of being in the next government.
"Ruto is a 2022 presidential front runner and will definitely win, so let us not be cheated to continue being in the cold year in year out,” he noted.