DEPUTY Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto are both facing complications in their strongholds in the run-up to the March 4 election.
In central Kenya Uhuru is facing difficulties in 14 constituencies in Laikipia, Nyeri, Muranga, Nyandarua and parts of Kiambu where the locals have clearly told him that they will not accept a TNA "six piece vote."
TNA has been urging voters to pick TNA for all six slots on the ballot paper: country representatives, women Representatives, MPs, governors and president.
But many locals have openly said they will vote for Uhuru for president and candidates of their choice for other positions. Assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri's party GNU is giving TNA sleepless nights because it has fielded some strong candidates.
"We are not fighting Uhuru and his party but all we are asking is that let the people be given choices because after all we are all in Jubilee," said Kiunjuri yesterday.
Other parties with strong candidates but which are still campaigning for Uhuru’s presidency are Narc, Mazingira and Saba Saba Asili. For Ruto, the resurgence of retired President Moi's party Kanu is complicating matters.
Moi is sponsoring various candidates in Rift Valley, some of whom have a real chance of winning against Ruto's URP candidates. "This myth that Ruto has Rift Valley locked is a myth," said Gideon Moi, son of the former president, who is running for senator of Baringo.
Ruto was booed in parts of Nakuru and Baringo on Tuesday and Wednesday after he asked for a "six piece" vote. So serious is the threat for TNA in Central Province that Uhuru has initiates talks with GNU leader Kiunjuri with a promise to co-opt him and his party into the government if Jubilee wins the March 4 election.
On Wednesday night, Uhuru and Ruto held a strategy meeting with TNA candidates at the Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki before campaigning yesterday.
Candidates who decamped from TNA after the shambolic TNA nominations have turned out to be a headache as Uhuru tries to strengthen the party in and outside Parliament.
Yesterday Nairobi TNA senator candidate Mike Sonko claimed that foreigners are funding smaller parties so that TNA Uhuru does not get enough MPs and senators in Parliament.
He alleged that they want to weaken Uhuru in Parliament so that it is easy to move a motion in Parliament to remove him from office in case he wins the next election.
“We know there are some white men who are funding these smaller parties to deny our presidential candidate members in parliament and in senate. I want you people of Nyeri to reject those smaller parties," he said.
"These plans are meant to remove Uhuru from power two weeks after he is sworn in,” said Sonko during a rally in Nyeri to popularize TNA.
Mukurwe-ini TNA parliamentary candidate Kabando wa Kabando said voters in Nyeri should go for a six suit piece to ensure Uhuru controls Parliament.
Nairobi TNA woman representative candidate Rachel Shebesh also claimed that some foreign countries want to ensure a motion to remove Uhuru from office is tabled immediately after he is sworn in. Crowds shouted down attempts by Ruto to campaign for URP candidates at rallies this week.
Calls for six piece voting were opposed at rallies in Kuresoi and Kabartonjo on Tuesday and Rongai and Marigat on Wednesday, as Ruto tried to campaign for outgoing Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot, his Rongai counterpart Luka Kigen and Baringo county senator candidate Bishop Jackson Kosgei.
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