Ruto allies from Mt Kenya say no to Raila candidature
Mt Kenya lawmakers allied to Deputy President William Ruto have said the region will not support Opposition chief Raila Odinga for presidency in 2022.
They said they would neither be intimidated nor coerced into changing their political choice.
The leaders included Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka-Nithi), Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a) and MPs Patrick Munene (Chuka Igambang’ombe), Kareke Mbiuki (Nithi ), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Tharaka Nithi Beatrice Nkatha, George Murugara (Tharaka) and Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira). Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa was also present.
Speaking yesterday in the company of DP Ruto during his tour of Tharaka Nithi county, the lawmakers said even if President Uhuru Kenyatta is backing Raila, the region will not.
They noted that Mt Kenya was fully behind Ruto’s presidential bid.
Kindiki claimed the President had derailed development plans for Mt Kenya.
“We failed to remain on the path that was meant to uplift millions of Kenyans,” he said.
Senator said the Jubilee Government that had promised to make friendly the country’s investment environment had failed.
“Instead, what we are seeing today are punitive measures that are killing enterprises. This must be stopped by voting in a progressive leader,” he explained.
Murugara said it was only the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) that will transform the country.
“If you are not with UDA, then you are part of our country’s problems,” he noted.
Nkatha assured Dr Ruto that Tharaka Nithi was fully behind him.
Regional parties
Kang’ata said the Raila for president project will collapse the same way the Building Bridges Initiative crumbled.
“Mt Kenya will not regress into its stand to support Dr Ruto for President in 2022,” he said.
Ruto, who is on a week-long tour of Mt Kenya asked Kenyans not to accept to be divided into small regional political parties.
“It is these regional outfits that breed ethnicity and division in our country,” he said. The Deputy President asked Mt Kenya region to rally behind UDA, whose agenda, he said, is anchored on the Bottom-up economic model. Gachagua called on Agriculture Cabinet secretary Peter Munya to consider joining hustler nation and to stop selling ODM leader’s agenda in the region.
“ We are ready to work with Munya. He is very welcome to UDA so we are telling him to stop campaigning for Raila, because he is going nowhere,” said the legislator.
Munya and Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, who have been bitter rivals buried the hatchet during Raila’s tour of the county and rallied support for his State House run.
