Uhuru roots for Kiraitu, drops ‘six-piece’ call

By WAINAINA NDUNG’U

Jubilee Alliance presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta sent mixed signals about his earlier call for ‘six-piece’ voting while campaigning in Meru County.

Yesterday, he campaigned for Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) leader and Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi after being installed as a Meru elder at Njuri Ncheke shrine in Nchiru, Imenti North constituency. He said he was taking sides since TNA did not field a candidate for Meru Senate seat and competition was between Kiraitu and ODM’s Gitobu Imanyara.

“ODM being our main rival, my man here is Kiraitu and I urge you to vote for him as you vote for me,” said Uhuru. It was a direct contrast for Uhuru, who an hour earlier at Laare, in Igembe North had urged support to create a strong parliamentary group and teams in the devolved government.

At Laare, only TNA candidates were introduced but at Nchiru, APK candidates Peter Munya, Elizabeth Karemia and Rahim Dawood were introduced alongside TNA’s Kilemi Mwiria, Florence Kajuju and Silas Muriuki. There were also several Grand National Union candidates introduced and Uhuru said he would accept any of them if they won. As demanded by APK leaders, Uhuru avoided any comments on ‘six-piece’ suit.

LEADERSHIP SYMBOLS

Uhuru was declared leader of the Ameru by the Njuri Ncheke in a ceremony presided over by council of elders chairman Paul M’Nthikia and secretary general Phares Ruteere.

He was named M’Mwenda (man of peace) and given symbols of leadership including a traditional stool, an elder’s regalia, flywhisk and spear.

“We give you our women, our children, our land and all our property to take care of on our behalf as a leader of our people,” said M’Nthikia.

Ruteere said Njuri Ncheke had reached a deal on the political direction of the community after studying all the presidential candidates who they had invited in the area.

Uhuru had scheduled several rallies in Mt Kenya East region yesterday but he changed his itinerary. He will visit Meru town, Imenti area as well as Tharaka Nithi and Embu.