Mudavadi
seeks blessing of Meru elders
DPM Musalia Mudavadi enthroned as an Ameru elder by Chairman of Njuri Ncheke Paul M’thinkia
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Updated Sunday, July 15 2012 at 20:50 GMT+3
By Standard Reporter
The Meru council of elders, Njuri Ncheke, has
told Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi that they will look at him
favourably in the next presidential elections.
The council’s National Secretary Pharis Ruteere,
who led over 170 elders in blessing Mudavadi, said the elders will make their
decision at the right time but are convinced he is the best bet among those in
the scene.
“We have seen you, heard about you and today we
have invited you to talk to the elders. However, the coming of rain is revealed
by dark clouds (dalili ya mvua ni mawingu) and in you lies the hope of
Kenyans,” said Ruteere.
They were speaking in Meru where they hosted
Mudavadi and other UDF leaders.
The elders carried out traditional rites only
bestowed on former President Daniel Moi and President Kibaki, and christened
Mudavadi M’Mukiri (a man of peace).
Speaking after the ritual, Mudavadi urged elders
to take an active role in fostering unity among Kenyans ahead of the
forthcoming General Election to ensure a smooth transition.
Mudavadi said elders ought to offer guidance to
their communities to choose the right leaders. He told the elders that he was a
listening and sober leader who offered himself for the service to the people of
Kenya.
“We know how Njuri Ncheke is resolute; when you
have made a decision, you are decisive. Today you have made that decision and
given me an opportunity. I promise to offer leadership that befits my new name
M’Mukiri, that is my contract with Meru people,” he said.
The DPM said forging unity between different
leaders seeking elective posts is not meant to deny anybody leadership
position.
“We are not coming together to deny somebody a
leadership position. This is a competition and everyone is doing some
arithmetic on how to emerge a winner. Let us as Kenyans unite to elect the next
president in the first round and I am offering myself to lead the team,” he
added.
presidential campaign
Earlier, the DPM had met over 100 civic and
later 400 opinion leaders including aspirants on UDF, professional
organisations officials, and religious and matatu leaders to bolster his
presidential campaign in Meru County.
He was accompanied by MPs allied to UDF
including Jeremiah Kioni, Justus Kizito, and Manyala Keya, among others.
Today the UDF campaign will head to Tigania and
Igembe and end with a rally at Maua.
Meanwhile, a PNU official in Nakuru County has
urged the Government not to recall the 47 county commissioners.
Speaking on Suday, PNU county vice-chairman Jerry Ontiri said
President Kibaki did no wrong in appointing the commissioners.
“Devolved system of Government should be in place early next year
and what the President has done is to put things in order for smooth
transition,” said Ontiri.
According to him, the system will run into trouble if issues of
counties are not taken seriously.
“Counties are there to represent the central government, and
governors being from different political parties cannot be trusted to respect
the president elect if he or she will not be from their party,” he reiterated.
He said the commissioners will coordinate security matters during
elections period.
Ontiri said all other sectors of Government have already deployed
their heads of departments.
“Appointing of county commissioners should not be confused with
political appointments and those making noise should stop,” urged the
vice-chairman.
He said the officers were just redeployed from their previous
assignments by the Government and not picked from outside.
—
Additional reporting by Vincent Mabatuk
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