Uhuru's show of might on Kenneth's turf

By FRANCIS NGIGE and BONIFACE GIKANDIDeputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta cast off the shadow of his impending visit to The Hague to consolidate support in his Mt Kenya backyard.
On Sunday he was in the larger Murang'a County, home turf of Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth who is also believed to habour presidential ambitions.
Despite the looming possibility of being locked out of the 2012 presidential race over claims by the International Criminal Court linking him to post-election violence Uhuru is leaving nothing to chance, and has intensified his efforts to rally the region behind him in his plans to succeed President Kibaki.

Mr Uhuru Kenyatta (third from left) with MPs and local leaders toured Meru at the weekend. He says pending trial at The Hague will not deter him from consolidating support ahead of elections in 2012. [PHOTO: GEORGE MULALA/STANDARD]

He held a colourful procession from Kenol trading Centre to Murang’a town where he addressed a mammoth rally.
And Uhuru’s cause appears to be on track as MPs allied to Kenneth accompanied him during the Murang’a rally. The MPs, Elias Mbau, Muturi Mwangi, Clement Muchiri and Maina Kamau said they would stand with Uhuru especially "this time when he is being persecuted."
Uhuru arrived with a group of 25 MPs, including two ministers, and held roadside meetings at Kenol, Sabasaba and Karati, before a massive public rally at the historic Ihura Stadium in Murang’a Town.
After touring Kirinyaga, Nanyuki and Kiambu, Uhuru was on Saturday in the larger Meru County before he held a series of rallies in Murang’a where he preached the need for unity.
Uhuru and his handlers seem keen to water down Peter Kenneth’s and Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua’s influence in the region. In the past three weeks, Uhuru has held public meetings in the region more than five times.
An interesting feature in these rallies is that before they start, organisers have been dishing out Uhuru posters emblazoned with a "Tuko Pamoja" message.
Uhuru and his entourage have been riding in an open truck fitted with powerful sound systems, like those used during political campaigns. After helping the Party of National Unity bag the Kirinyaga Central Parliamentary seat, Uhuru managed to woo the combative Juja MP William Kabogo to his side, dealing a blow to Karua.
Although Kabogo has not announced publicly that he has ditched Narc-Kenya, all indications are that he has burnt his bridges with Karua and is ready to team up with Uhuru.
Kabogo, who replaced one of Uhuru’s closest allies, Mr George Thuo in a by-election in 2010, has been seen with Uhuru in public meeting across the Mt Kenya region. Kabogo was in Sunday’s rally, where he pledged to stand by Uhuru who "is carrying the aspirations of our people."
Flamboyant Makadara MP Gideon Mbuvi, alias ‘Sonko’ was also at the meeting, which ended late in the evening. Karua had received a boost when Kabogo clinched the Juja seat on a Narc-Kenya ticket, despite well-oiled campaign machinery by PNU led by Uhuru. The party also clinched the Makadara seat now held by Gideon Mbuvi.
On Sunday Uhuru led the MPs in declaring that the Mt Kenya region would speak in one voice as the country prepares for the 2012 polls.
Those present included cabinet ministers Beth Mugo, John Michuki and Amos Kimunya and assistant ministers Lee Kinyanjui, Ferdinand Waititu, Kabando wa Kabando, Lewis Nguyai among other MPs.
Uhuru said he was preaching for unity as divisions among local leaders had worked against the region in the past.
"We should speak in one voice so that it can be heard far and wide. We are inviting all leaders to join hands for the sake of the region," Uhuru said.
He said his summons to The Hague did not worry him, as he was confident of "coming back to the country unscathed"
He added: "I am confident that I will go to The Hague and come back after being cleared and the real perpetrators of the violence will be known," said Uhuru.
In one of the clearest indications that he was no longer in Karua’s camp, Kabogo last week even extended an olive branch to Kenneth, also seen as a stumbling block to Uhuru’s quest for presidency.
"We are sending Muturi (Mwangi) who is from Murang’a County to our brother Peter Kenneth, so that we unite and be strong," Kabogo told the Kiharu MP who was also a surprise guest at the Uhuru’s meeting in Nanyuki last weekend.
Muturi has been in a group of MPs from Murang’a County who have been coalescing around Kenneth.
In his speech, Muturi was categorical he would support the formation of a local tribunal to ensure that Uhuru is not tried at The Hague.
"I fully support Uhuru because I don’t think he played any role in the post election violence. We are fully behind you," he told Uhuru.
Earlier, Kabogo sought to explain why he was re-establishing his relationship with Uhuru, the two having parted ways before the 2007 General Election.
Speaking when he hosted Kiambu County civic leaders at his parents’ home in Ruiru last week, the MP said he had not fallen out with Karua but tradition dictates that he supports Uhuru.
"It is not that I have anything against her, but it is in our tradition to support our own," he said, alluding to a popular allegation that Kiambu residents took oath not to let Kikuyu political leadership to cross Chania River, in Thika.
He said the meeting with the councillors was aimed at uniting the leaders, so they may root support for Uhuru at the county grassroots.
He said he was planning a larger meeting for Uhuru to be attended by the councillors and their supporters.
"When we call for the meeting, we request you to each come along with five of your supporters and five of the people you feel do not support you. Your spouses too," he told the civic leaders. He said the meeting with councillors would be held on April 3, at Uhuru’s home in Gatundu.