 |
| DPM Uhuu Kenyatta at a rally in Embu last week [Photo:John Muchucha/Standard] |
By Francis Ngige and James Munyeki
Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has warned various political aspirants in central Kenya against using his name to get votes in the General E lection or win party nominations.
In a move to consolidate his support and snuff out political fires emerging in the region, the DPM has faced his detractors head-on. “Don’t use my name to gain popularity,” is the message Uhuru has for political aspirants.
Uhuru disowned aspirants vying for various county seats claiming that he favoured them over the rest. The Gatundu South MP gave the warning as two MPs allied to Musalia Mudavadi’s United Democratic Forum (UDF) refuted claims they were in the party to undermine Uhuru in his bid for the presidency.
Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni and his Laikipia west counterpart
Ndiritu Muriithi said that they were in UDF simply because it was the party that would take over leadership once e lections are held next year.
The two, who are among a few MPs from the region that is operating above the wave backing Uhuru showered praise on UDF, saying the party had the best ideologies to take over leadership once President Kibaki retires.
The lawmakers said there was no way they would undermine Uhuru, but were only revealing the truth to Kenyans ahead of the e lections. They claimed there was a plot by politicians to force a run-off between Uhuru and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“Whom do you think will be in the presidential rerun? It will be Uhuru and the other one you fear most. Then communities will be mobilised to gang up against one as happened in the 2007,” said Kioni.
Since Uhuru moved to The National Alliance (TNA) most of MPs seeking county seats have been rushing to identify with him.
Some have even put up posters and banners comprising of their pictures and that of Uhuru.
But Uhuru said he has no favourite candidate in any county. The DPM repeated the claims at every stop he made during his extensive tour of Tharaka Nithi, Meru and Embu Counties.
