Kalonzo, Ruto and Wamalwa tour vote rich Mt Kenya region

Updated 9 hr(s) 9 min(s) ago

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By JOB WERU and JOSEPH MUCHIRI

Presidential hopefuls camped in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region on Sunday, led Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and his Saboti counterpart Eugene Wamalwa.

However, Kalonzo steered away from politics and instead planted a commemorative tree at Muhoya hills in Tetu, Nyeri County, at Karunaini, a symbolic spot where legendary Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi was captured by colonialist forces.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka plants a mugumo at Dedan Kimathi Memorial site at Kahinga-ini, Nyeri, on Sunday. [PHOTO: MARTIN TELEWA AND VPPS]

In Embu, Ruto of the G7 alliance urged Britain to respect Kenya and its culture. He criticised the UK’s recent decision to deny aid to countries that are strongly anti-gay as misplaced and un-African.

Ruto was speaking at Kiangungi Secondary School in Runyenjes constituency during the opening of a girls’ dormitory and a fundraiser to buy a school bus,

He said UK must not give restrictions on donations if they do not have vested interests.

Wamalwa was in Imenti South Constituency, at Gakuuni PCEA Church for a funds drive where he challenged new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Isaack Hassan not to "play politics" with the election date.

Ruto asked UK Prime Minister David Cameron to respect Kenyans because they are God-fearing people who cannot accept homosexuality.

The Eldoret North MP was accompanied by Tourism Assistant Minister Cecily Mbarire, Siakago MP Lenny Kivuti, Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto, Chachu Ganya (North Horr), Ekwe Ethuro (Turkana Central).

Ruto said G7 is made up of development conscious and like-minded people, who want to unite all Kenyans and address the plight of the youth, especially unemployment, noting that four million young Kenyans are jobless.

BITTER RIVAL

He took a swipe at his bitter rival. Prime Minister Raila Odinga, over the Kazi kwa Vijana controversy, saying that in the 21st century, Kenya should be arming its youth with basic skills in carpentry, welding, information technology and not with hoes and shovels.

"Instead of giving shovels to youth, they should be given interest-free loans to engage in farming, start business and industrial activities," said Ruto.

Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto who accompanied him said Nyanza leaders should tame youths and condemned the recent pelting of presidential aspirant Raphael Tuju’s convoy with stones.

Over in Nyeri County, Kalonzo, accompanied by Public Works Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri, called for political discipline ahead of the 2012 polls. Kiunjuri called on Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere and National Cohesion and Integration Commission Chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia to investigate and arrest people fanning ethnic divisions.

Wamalwa also condemned the attacks on Tutu as barbaric and outdated and only served to polarize the country.

The Mt Kenya region has lately become a busy hunting ground. Interestingly, the event came barely two weeks after Prime Minister Raila Odinga cancelled a trip to Nyeri, in which he was scheduled to plant a tree at the same scene.

Kalonzo, who was accompanied by MPs, Francis Nyammo (Tetu) and Ephraim Maina (Mathira) toured tea plantations in the region.

The VP said the tour gave him a sense of belonging and an attachment to Kenya’s clamour for independence.

He planted a Mugumo (fig) tree, which according to Kikuyu traditions is considered sacred. "The tour and subsequent planting of a Mugumo tree gives me a sense of fulfillment, since the name Kimathi is synonymous with Kenya’s independence," said the VP.

In a tribute to the late freedom fighter, he said the name Kimathi is synonymous with Kenya’s independence, adding that it was the reason the Government decided to install his monument along Kimathi street in Nairobi.

FREEDOM FIGHTERS

"I feel privileged to honour him. We must protect our sovereignty and such sites and monuments that remind us of the enduring fight our forefathers fought to liberate us," he said.

In what appeared like a recognition of freedom fighters, most of who have already died, the VP said the Government is in the process of improving their welfare, and would gazette spots like these as national monuments.

This came after Ephraim Maina said that despite the country honouring Kimathi as a hero, his wife, Mama Mukami was leading a desolate life.

"It is a pity that the old woman is struggling to live while the whole nation celebrates her husband as the liberator of the nation," said Maina.

Maina caused laughter when he claimed the country risked catching a curse for neglecting Ms Mukami and other devoted freedom fighters languishing in poverty.

"Let us take good care of Ms Mukami and other freedom fighters, or we live with a curse in our heads," he said.

Tetu MP Francis Nyammo asked the Government to build a memorial at Karunaini to serve as a tourist attraction and museum, complete with a visitor’s book.

In a separate interview with journalists a few metres from the patched spot where Kimathi fell, Kalonzo said the Government would put up a museum at the scene, which will also serve as a tourists attraction site.

"In next year’s Budget, we will also try to factor in the spot and see whether we can put up a museum in this important scene," said Kalonzo.