Leaders in blame game over organisation of Azimio Thika rally
Local leaders including lawmakers and the Kiambu County Assembly blamed organisers of the Azimio La Umoja rally for keeping them out of the preparations, hence their failure to attend.
Only five out of the county’s 92 MCAS attended the meeting at Thika Stadium, during the launch of presidential aspirant Raila Odinga’s campaigns.
Similarly, there were only three MPs from the county out of 14; Jude Njomo (Kiambu Town), Wanjiku wa Kibe (Gatundu North) and Simon King’ara (Ruiru).
Also conspicuously absent was County Assembly Speaker Stephen Ndicho who also claimed he was not invited.
Without pinpointing anyone, the MCAs who spoke to People Daily said they had not been consulted before the meeting and felt there was no need to attend an event in which no one would recognise them.
“Personally I had no issues with the meeting but the organisers did not consult us as expected so we agree on a few modalities. There’s no point in attending an event where you appear like a flower girl,” said Thika Township MCA Andrew Kimani.
He added that most leaders in Kiambu had no problem with Raila or any other presidential hopeful visiting the county to sell their agenda, but added that those charged with the duty of organising Saturday’s event did a poor job.
Governor James Nyoro who was the host introduced other governors but he only appreciated the MCAs present who, unlike the other leaders, was not called out.
Nominated MCA Joseph Njiru said the organisers should have called all members of the assembly and other leaders including MPs to prepare for the meeting, which did not happen.
Ndicho who has declared interest in the gubernatorial seat said he should have been involved in planning the event but this didn’t happen.
Nyoro declared that the people of Kiambu have endorsed Raila as the presidential flag bearer under the Azimio banner and vowed to conduct grassroots mobilization in his support.
Before attending the Thika stadium rally, the ODM leader had met various leaders from the county at the Mt Kenya University graduation square, where they presented a memorandum to the presidential aspirant.
