Uhuru is the de facto Mt Kenya kingpin, Murang’a leaders say
From left: Mathioya MP Peter Kimari, Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria and Gatanga MP Nduati Ngugi during a press conference at Golden Palm Hotel in Kenol on January 11, 2018. They urged politicians to stop pointing fingers at the President over lack of development projects in their areas saying they are the ones mandated to initiate them. PHOTO | NDUNG'U GACHANE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- They said some politicians were dissatisfied when the President said his choice for the 2022 presidential candidate would shock many.
- Mr KImari said the President is the region's de facto leader and that they will follow his advice regarding the 2022 presidential candidate.
- Governor Wa Iria urged politicians to tone down their “toxic political statements” and give the President and his deputy time to deliver.
Leaders from Murang’a County have associated statements from some politicians to the effect that President Uhuru Kenyatta has not developed central to a spirited campaign which they say is aimed at lowering his “de facto leadership of Mt Kenya”.
According to the leaders, some politicians were dissatisfied when the President said his choice for the 2022 presidential candidate would shock many and, as a result, they have hatched a plot to "finish the President politically so that he will not be strong politically to guide the direction Mt Kenya takes in 2022".
CHOICE FOR 2022
Led by Governor Mwangi Wa Iria, MPs Nduati Ngugi (Gatanga), Peter Kimari (Mathioya) and Murang'a MCAs, the leaders claimed that some of their colleagues are on a mission to spoil the reputation of the President since “their choice for president may not get automatic support from Mr Kenyatta”.
Mr Kimari said that no amount of intimidation will stop the region from being under Mr Kenyatta, maintaining that the President is the region’s kingpin and will continue being so even after 2022.
He said the President is the region's de facto leader and that they will follow his advice regarding the 2022 presidential candidate.
"We know that some quarters are plotting to dilute the kingship of the President in Mt Kenya region but let them be reminded that the region will remain under him even after the expiry of his term," said Mr Kimari.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
On his part Mr Ngugi said the region has development projects and that the leaders are misguiding the electorate by claiming otherwise.
"Even if there were no development projects in the region the President and his deputy are not to be blamed as Parliament is the one tasked with budgetary allocations.
"It's unfortunate that leaders issue statements when they are drunk without knowing what such utterances could do to the nation," said the MP.
He added that if there are people to be blamed, it is Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and his Kikuyu counterpart Kimani Ichung'wah, who are member and chairman of the Parliamentary Budget Committee respectively.
Governor Wa Iria urged politicians to tone down their “toxic political statements” and give the President and his deputy time to deliver on their promises to the electorate.
RE-ELECTION
He said that given that the two were overwhelmingly re-elected, it was a clear manifestation that they had worked well in their first term.
"The presidency must be respected because it's the symbol of national unity. The duo worked hard in their first term and it is wise to give them time to deliver and stop the political undertones," he said.
Mr Wa Iria took a swipe at the politicians whom he said misinterpreted the “washenzi” comment by the President to mean he was insulting Mt Kenya residents.
"Leaders world over use such statements but people who want to propagate hatred in Mt Kenya against the President [misinterpreted] his statement to [mean] that he insulted us. It is wrong and it is the high time we knew that such propagandas could burn the nation,” Mr Wa Iria said.
