Uhuru tells aspirants to stop
riding on his name
Uhuru
tells aspirants to stop riding on his name
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Updated 6 hrs 16 mins ago
By Francis Ngige and James Munyeki
Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has warned
various political aspirants in central Kenya against using his name to get
votes in the General Election or win party nominations.
In a move to consolidate his support and snuff
out political fires emerging in the region, the DPM has faced his detractors
head-on. “Don’t use my name to gain popularity,” is the message Uhuru has for
political aspirants.
Uhuru disowned aspirants vying for various
county seats claiming that he favoured them over the rest. The Gatundu South MP
gave the warning as two MPs allied to Musalia Mudavadi’s United Democratic
Forum (UDF) refuted claims they were in the party to undermine Uhuru in his bid
for the presidency.
Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni and his Laikipia west
counterpart
Ndiritu Muriithi said that they were in UDF
simply because it was the party that would take over leadership once elections
are held next year.
The two, who are among a few MPs from the region
that is operating above the wave backing Uhuru showered praise on UDF, saying
the party had the best ideologies to take over leadership once President Kibaki
retires.
The lawmakers said there was no way they would
undermine Uhuru, but were only revealing the truth to Kenyans ahead of the
elections. They claimed there was a plot by politicians to force a run-off
between Uhuru and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“Whom do you think will be in the presidential
rerun? It will be Uhuru and the other one you fear most. Then communities will
be mobilised to gang up against one as happened in the 2007,” said Kioni.
Since Uhuru moved to The National Alliance (TNA)
most of MPs seeking county seats have been rushing to identify with him.
Some have even put up posters and banners
comprising of their pictures and that of Uhuru.
But Uhuru said he has no favourite candidate in
any county. The DPM repeated the claims at every stop he made during his
extensive tour of Tharaka Nithi, Meru and Embu Counties.
“When I come to you, I’m just seeking my vote in
my bid for the presidency. All the aspirants should participate in a free and
fair nomination,” said Uhuru.
He continued: “When the time for campaigns come,
I will be asking for your vote as Uhuru Kenyatta. The rest will come to you in
their individual capacity.”
Uhuru said he was aware some parliamentary,
senators and governorship aspirants were claiming that he favoured them in the
race.
“No one should come to you (voters) claiming
that I’m supporting them. All those interested in the seat should seek votes
and participate in the nominations,” said the DPM.
hijack party
During Uhuru’s tour of Meru, the political
aspirants tried to outdo each other by trying to associate themselves with the
DPM.
The rallies were akin to campaign meetings with
nearly all aspirants distributing materials emblazoned with their pictures and
that of Uhuru.
In Chuka Town, Nithi constituency Uhuru was
forced to intervene after a section of the crowd booed local MP Kareke Mbiuki,
who is among his key allies.
While Kareke was forced to cut short his speech,
the other aspirants were given a rousing welcome.
In Central Kenya, there appears to be a scramble
for Uhuru’s party tickets as politicians prepare for the General Election.
In Nyeri County, Kieni MP Nemesyus Warugongo
accused some of his challengers of seeking to hijack the affairs of the party
even before a county office is launched in the area.
“I have been told some people in Kieni want to
announce the opening of the TNA office this (last) weekend. They have not been
given a go-ahead as officials are busy organising the county office, which will
give proper directions. Let them not spoil our party,” said Warugongo.
Warugongo is involved in a turf war with James
Mathenge Simon who is aspiring to be the Kieni MP and has always claimed close
links with Uhuru.
But during his tour of the region, Uhuru sought
to clarify that all aspiring politicians should tell people what they would do
for them rather than use his name to gain popularity.
“We are in a democratic system where the people
will decide who their leader is. This should be judged by his ability to
perform,” said Uhuru.
He added: “We should avoid rhetoric and instead
tell people what you are going to do for them. That is the only way we are
going to realise development.”
But speaking at Sipili Township in Laikipia West
during a UDF rally, Kioni observed that many political aspirants, especially
those in Central Kenya do not want to tell local residents the reality.
He described most of the aspirants as
self-seekers clinging to an individual’s party to attain positions on his
goodwill.
help of others
“You have to be wary of these kind of people who
are only interested in power without being mindful to the welfare of the people
in the region,” he said.
The legislator gave an example of how bad
leaders came to be with 1992 presidential aspirant Kenneth Matiba who was
tortured during the struggle for multipartyism, adding that those who attained
seats under multiparty democracy think less about him.
“Similar politicians are there even today. Once
they get to Parliament, Senate, County Assembly and Kenya burns, they won’t
care. They’ll already have got what they wanted,” he said.
Muriithi said following the promulgation of the
new Constitution, no single community will ever form a government on its own
without the help of others.
“Don’t be cheated that Mount Kenya region can
get more than 85 parliamentary seats out of the proposed 349, even if they
follow each other like safari ants,” he said.
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