Why Kikuyus Will Vote For Another Candidate In 2017

There has always been a notion that Kikuyus always vote singularly for a single Presidential candidate from Central Kenya. In fact, it is a common claim that Kikuyus only vote for their own when it comes to Presidential elections. However, things will be a bit different in 2017. Let’s ponder and think why this is so.

President Uhuru Kenyatta (R) waves as he leaves after his swearing-in ceremony at Kasarani Stadium in the capital Nairobi, April 9, 2013. Kenyatta took the oath of office as Kenyan president on Tuesday REUTERS

July 19, 2015

BY COLLINS MABINDA

First of all, President Uhuru Kenyatta has done virtually nothing for the people of Central Kenya, just as he has done almost negligible things for the country. The country is clearly on a wrong growth trajectory, and even Kikuyus are quickly realising that voting for a President from your home region doesn’t guarantee that your region will develop.

The rate of unemployment in Central Kenya is high, and more people are consuming chang’aa and other illicit brews. Although you might be surprised, many Kikuyus are slowly growing wary of President Uhuru Kenyatta. They are quickly realising that despite the region producing three Presidents, the region really is no different from the other regions in Kenya.

And this is where the Presidential tide will change in 2017. First of all, we have no guarantee that Deputy President William Ruto will back President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017. As things stand now, despite the smiles in public, things are not very rosy for the two. The URP side of the coalition is feeling shortchanged, and the election being just a couple of months to come, there is no guarantee that the Kalenjin will back Mr Kenyatta for another Presidential term.

It is true that President Uhuru Kenyatta is trying to bring in other votes from other regions such as Western Kenya, but the fact is that the Western region will just not be won easily. The region is tired of playing second fiddle all along. This makes President Uhuru Kenyatta to be particularly vulnerable in 2017.

Towards this end, just like in Zambia, where the founding President lost, and in Nigeria recently when the sitting President was unseated, President Kenyatta will in 2017 surely follow suit and be among the increasing number of sitting Presidents who have lost an election.

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