Uhuru supporters ask for prayers

THURSDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2011 00:05 BY JESSE MWANGI

SUSPECT: Head of Public Service Muthaura (C) with his son Paul (R) and his legal team outside the ICC court yesterday. Photo/Lawrence Maingi

Supporters of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday held a meeting in Murang'a and appealed to Kenyans to pray for his victory. Led by former MP for Kandara  Joshua Toro, the supporters are insisting that he is innocent.

Toro also said that a section of leaders are happy over the predicament facing Uhuru. He said the supperters are using all means to see that Uhuru participates in the next general election. "We know of some people who are praying day and night that ICC will confirm the charges against the DPM. I'm hereby urging Kenyans to pray for his success in the case," said Toro.

Murang’a residents are keenly following the confirmation of charges hearings against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, civil service boss Francis Muthaura and Postmaster General Hussein Ali. Many have been seen glued to TV sets in bars and hotels which are making sure their clients get the best of ICC. The interest has been heightened following the mention of Environment minister John Michuki, who is the MP for Kangema, and the mention of the outlawed Mungiki sect.

The ICC prosecutorial team led by Mr Louis Moreno-Ocampo has mentioned Mr Michuki in its submissions and said the banned Mungiki sect was used to maim anti-PNU supporters following the disputed 2007 presidential polls. Mr Ocampo alleges that Mr Michuki who is also MP for Kangema was involved in planning Mungiki attacks by asking Mr Ali who was then the police commissioner to create a safe zone for the sect’s operations.

The Mungiki sect traces some of its roots to Murang’a and was and is still dreaded for its heinous and merciless killings to those opposed to its operations. However a government operations form the area in 2008 helped quell the illegal sect although residents still live in fear of the group.

Although many are appalled by those revelations, they are optimistic that Mr Kenyatta will be cleared by the court of any wrong doing. “I may not have any facts to prove that he (Kenyatta) is innocent but all I know is that he was helping people during the chaos, he will be found innocent,” said Mr Joseph Kamau, a resident in Murang’a town.

And during a prayer service held on behalf of Mr Kenyatta, Mr Ali and Mr Muthaura by Kikuyu elders at Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga shrine, they were was optimistic that the DPM would be cleared by the court and return home triumphantly. “We are sure that Uhuru will be cleared as he did nothing wrong, all he did was help our people and at the same time called for peace,”  said their National chairman Wachira Kiago .