Uhuru succession: Mt Kenya reminded of Jomo, Jaramogi as Raila tackles Ruto in Central Kenya
A section of political leaders from Mt. Kenya have pledged to support ODM leader Raila Odinga in his presidential bid come 2022.
The leaders who had converged at the home of business mogul SK Macharia in Gatanga where they met with local musicians to discuss their welfare said they are ready to take Odinga to every part of the region to sell him out to the people.
They said Odinga has done a lot for the region including the collaboration with the government through the handshake and he deserves to be rewarded for this.
Among the leaders were governors Mwangi Wa Iria, Wycliff Oparanya, Alfred Mutua, James Nyoro, Anyang Nyong'o, Anne Waiguru, Senator James Orengo, Mps Kanini Kega, Maina Kamanda, Gladys Wanga, June Mohammed, Opiyo Wandai, Ngugi Nduati, Ruth Mwaniki, among others.
Dennis Waweru a lead promoter of the BBI said the agenda meant well for the people of the is country exuding confidence that it shall sail through the legal hurdles.
He said the people of the Mt. Kenya region shall be the big beneficiaries of the report if it's adopted citing the increased revenue allocation.
Waweru however castigated hustler movement whom he accused of doing campaigns with handouts to the locals terming it as unacceptable.
"Our people here know how to work for themselves and we don't need to be given money inroder to vote for a certain candidate," he said.
Waweru stated that the region knows who is the best candidate to represent its interests at the national level.
"We know who is best to take us to to where we want to be" he said.
Maina Kamanda on his part said Odinga has sacrificed a lot for this country and it is time he got the reward for his efforts.
Kamanda said the history of how Odinga's father Jaramogi Odinga and founding president Jommo Kenyatta laid a foundation for this country cannot be forgotten.
"All that Odinga did was not for himself but for the nation and this portrays him as a selfless leader who has interests of people at heart" he said.
Kamanda said they leaders from the region are ready to support Odinga in his bid to become the next president of this country.
Kieni Member of Parliament Kanini Kega said the infamous handshake between Odinga and Kenyatta was a noble political move that has seen the country gain political stability.
Kega urged Odinga to be free to visit any part of the Mt. Kenya region as often as he can so as to popularilize himself with the people.
"Last time you came to Nyeri we welcomed you and this should tell you that the people of the region love you," he said.
Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth urged leaders to embrace a discussion that will help improve the livelihood of the people.
He said it was not yet time for political campaigns and that leaders who are chest thumping should wait for the right time.
"It's not yet time for campaigns but I can assure you things will get hot as we approach the general elections but we should not lose focus," he said.
Kenneth however siad the region will go for the leader who will look at the interests of the people because this is what matters.
"Politics is a matter of interests and we can only go where ours we will be best taken care of," he said.
Kenneth also said that he will volunteer in taking the ODM leader through a tour of Mt Kenya region and sell his agenda to the people of the region.
He also said said all the bad mouthing and insults against Odinga should be forgotten adding that this was just a political competition.
Senator James Orengo a close ally to Odinga said the latter is clean and needs no cleansing for him to be presented to the people.
He said the dirty politics of bad mouthing each over the years has tainted Odinga's image yet he has been fighting for the interests of the people.
"What is dirty is our politics and this is what we need to work on to get our country back on posterity track," Orengo remarked.
Kirinyaga governor Ann Waiguru said the region is keen to remain united and approach the election as one.
"We are not people who can be swayed from side to side we follow one direction and when elections come we shall vote as a block," she said.
Further, Waiguru said the President's directive on who the region should follow as the kingpin will also be crucial in the political affiliation for the people.
Nyandarua governor Nderitu Muriithi said the region and the country at large owes Odinga a debt of gratitude for the work he has done for this country.
He said just like in finances where old debts are cleared first the same case applies with Odinga who has been giving himself to the service of the nation. Kisumu governor Anyang
