By Stephen Okoyo-Krn Correspondent
President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to retire from office in August 2022. According to the 2010 constitution, the president is eligible to serve for a maximum of two terms.
Just a year to election, the region seems confused as there is no clear roadmap on succession. The retirement of President Uhuru Kenyatta is likely to leave the region more divided.
Presidential candidates majorly former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto are at the forefront looking for votes.
The two rivals have greater influence in the region with Ruto having the support of some members of Parliament such as Moses Kuria while Raila Odinga is believed to be backed up by President Kenyatta.
Days after meeting with President Kenyatta in statehouse Mombasa, he was hosted at late businessman Nginyo Kariuki home at Limuru hosted by a number of Mount Kenya members of Parliament.
Raila vowed to revive the economy if elected in 2022. He further dismissed Ruto’s bottom-up economic model saying that he was hoodwinking Kenyans with lies.
“We have a bigger agenda. There must be a concise, well-thought-out plan of rebuilding the economy, and not economic models largely anchored on sloganeering. This hoodwinking is takataka,” Raila said.
In an interview with Kamene television, Mr. Odinga reminded Mount Kenya residents that they owe him political debt after supporting former president Mwai Kibaki.
During news bulleting on Tv47 television Raila yet again called for the region’s support come 2022.
On the other hand, Deputy President William Ruto recently held three consecutive days meeting with MPs from the region. The self-declared ‘Hustler’ dismissed the ODM leader saying that he had no agenda for the nation.
”You are used to discussing with leaders of tribal parties about positions and power. We are telling you this time around we are going to have a different conversation about ordinary people.” He said
The two leaders have greatly left the once united block divided. However, the encryption by the two rivals is not fully welcomed in the region.
Moses Kuria, Gatundu South Member of Parliament has been campaigning in the region appealing for one common party.
He was quoted saying, “we have been crucified and highly labeled as betrayers but in the real sense, we are doing what we ought to have done long ago. In 2013 we made such a mistake and that’s why we have been suggested a lot.”
Martha Karua, Mwangi Kiunjuri, and Moses Kuria have started a joint initiative to unite leaders and netizens of the region.
Addressing the public the three political party leaders resolved to a point they would conduct a meeting in three months’ time to be able to make their resolution and agreement on how to conduct their affairs.
The three also claimed not to support anyone at this moment which seems contradictive to their actions.
