Ruto's UDA Party Unveils 50-Man Legal Team to Defend 'Hustlers' Against 'Deep State'

Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has unveiled a 50-man legal team ahead of the 2022 general elections.

Dubbed 'UDA Lawyers Brigade', the team will be tasked with defending the deputy president and ‘hustlers’ against the ‘deep state’.

Speaking at UDA headquarters in Nairobi on Monday, the party’s head of Legal Affairs Edward Muriu said the lawyers will also help the party in its quest to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the constitution.

"This is a group of about 50 lawyers who subscribe to the bottom-up economic model under the leadership of William Samoei Ruto and have volunteered their services to the party and the Hustler Movement," Muriu said.

Muriu pointed out that the brigade comprises young lawyers, who will be exposed to the legal environment and given assignments as part of Ruto's youth empowerment program.

"Youth empowerment is a key pillar of Bottom-Up economic model and as a party, it’s our duty and responsibility to bring the young lawyers together, expose them to potential clients, give them challenging assignments, mentor them to be brave soldiers fighting for democracy and rule of law for the benefit of all the hustlers in the republic," he added.

The team is also expected to defend ‘hustlers’ by instituting public interest cases against the ‘deep state’ in instances where they have “weaponized the criminal justice, tax law, employment laws and used against the hustlers on account of being associated with the Hustler Movement.”

UDA Secretary-General Veronica Maina and Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi were present during the press briefing. Havi has declared he will contest for the Westlands parliamentary seat on a UDA ticket.