Meru, Tharaka-Nithi Leaders vow to back Raila for president
Opposition leader Raila Odinga during an event in Migori. Former MPs from Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties have declared their support for the ODM leader should he run for presidency. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Mr Odinga, who in 2017 ran an unsuccessful State House race, has remained mum about his future in politics.
In the annulled August 8, 2017 election, Mr Odinga polled 55,602 votes out of 702,776 in Meru and 10,355 of the 213,157 votes in Tharaka-Nithi.
Mr Odinga promised to visit Meru and Tharaka-Nithi soon to explain the “handshake” on the invitation of the leaders.
A section of former MPs from Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties on Tuesday revived a debate about ODM leader Raila Odinga’s candidature in the 2022 presidential race, when they assured him of their unsolicited support.
Dubbed as the "Ameru handshake forum", the leaders praised Mr Odinga and the historic March 9 deal he made with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Although Raila said he will not run in 2022, this group is telling him should he decide to run, he shall have our unqualified support,” they said in a joint statement read by former Tigania West MP Kilemi Mwiria.
The 12 former MPs from the Upper Eastern counties spoke to journalists after meeting Mr Odinga at his Capitol Hill office in Nairobi.
They also asked Mr Odinga and the President to visit the region to ensure the impact of the March 9 handshake is felt throughout the counties.
MISUSE GOD'S SANCTUARY
“We ask leaders from Mt Kenya to stop insulting Raila Odinga during their ritualistic every-Sunday church harambees. It is an unholy misuse of God’s sanctuary,” the leaders said.
In the annulled August 8, 2017 election, Mr Odinga polled 55,602 votes out of 702,776 in Meru and 10,355 of the 213,157 votes in Tharaka-Nithi.
Mr Odinga, who in 2017 ran an unsuccessful State House race, has remained mum about his future in politics.
He has, however, insisted that even with the deal he made with the President, he will remain Opposition leader as well as the Nasa and ODM leader.
He asked the leaders to champion the Building Bridges Initiative, describing it as the country’s last chance to build a united nation.
MARGINALISED REGIONS
“We have operated as a collection of ethnic enclaves and marginalised regions for far too long. We have a last chance to build a nation. We have agreed with the President to build a nation out of the bits and pieces we have divided our country into and we are determined to give it our best efforts,” he said.
The ODM leader, a statement from his office said, appealed to Kenyans to unite against corruption, saying the vice is responsible for many of the problems Kenyans are going through, including missed development targets and ever rising cost of living.
He promised to visit Meru and Tharaka-Nithi soon to explain the “handshake” on the invitation of the leaders.
BLACKMAILED
Dr Mwiria was accompanied by former Meru deputy governor Raphael Muriungi, former MPs Petkey Miriti (Nithi), Gideon Irea (Central Imenti), David Karithi (Tigania West) and Joseph Mwenda (Igembe South), among others.
The leaders asked unnamed leaders from Mt Kenya to back the war against corruption, saying “they had joined those from the United Republican Party to oppose these efforts".
“The President should not be blackmailed by barons of graft. He must mercilessly crash all merchants of impunity. Mr President, cleanse Kenya. That will be your legacy. Lords of graft should not win,” Dr Mwiria said.
