Peter Kenneth in US

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I will bring freshness to the presidency, Peter Kenneth tells US forum

Posted by Administrator on August 22, 2011

Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth addresses a forum in Dallas, Texas over the weekend

By ANTONY KARANJA in DALLAS, TEXAS

Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth promised Kenyans in the Diaspora that he would inject freshness into the presidency should he decide to run for the office in
2012.

The MP who is on a fact finding mission in the US made the comments while answering questions in Dallas during his first stop of his tour.

He was answering a question from the audience asking him to differentiate himself from other candidates.

“Some of the names you heard of in 1963 are the same names you that keep being mentioned today,” Kenneth told an appreciative crowd. “This
is not a popularity contest and voters in Kenya are starting to realize that.” he added.

The MP also shot down suggestions that he may not be well known by the Kenyan people to make a successful run for the presidency.

Kenneth who stopped just short of officially declaring that he will be joining the race to State House reiterated that just because some of
those running for the presidency have been making “unnecessary noise,” he will not be compelled to do so.

He reminded the audience that the Diaspora will most likely account for the largest voting block in the coming elections and that they
should choose their leaders wisely.

Kenneth also sought to calm down concerns that he might run as Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s running mate in the 2012.

“I am not going to be anyone’s running mate and I am not going to be anyone’s project,” Kenneth responded to a questioner in the room.

The questioner was referring to some rumours which have been circulating in Kenya alleging that Kenneth may enter the 2012 race as an ODM mole.

“Those who know me know that I will stand as my own person and I will run on my record,” he added.

In addition, the MP insisted that he would do more to help coffee farmers realise the value of their coffee saying too many farmers are selling their land to real estate developers due to frustration brought about by poor prices. He notes that coffee output in the country has plummeted.

“The key thing here is value addition and we need to make sure that the coffee farmers realise value for their crops and make them feel that their crop is giving them back what it is worth,” he said. “This way, they will stop selling their farms and continue growing their crop.” he added.

Kenneth asked the forum attendees to look into his record of development in Gatanga while deciding on the choice for Kenya’s highest office. He said that he will“gatangarize” other parts of the country if he is elected.

He also touted his record on paying taxes saying he started paying on his own accord when the Kenyan people demanded that MPs pay their
fair share.

Taking a shot at other contenders, he asked that voters look at their record in their constituencies.

“If you can’t run a constituency, why would you want to run a country?” he asked.

Kenneth who is also an assistant minister for Planning and Vision 2030, also told the crowd that he would not be defending his Gatanga parliamentary seat nor will he vie for the governor or senator positions in his native Murang’a county.

The MP is scheduled to make stops in Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Illinois.

Speculation is rife that Kenneth will officially announce his entry into the 2012 race for the presidency soon after his return to Kenya
from the US.