MPs disregard Ruto gag order and allege scheme to rock Jubilee

Starehe MP Maina Kamanda, Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Dennis Waweru (Dagoretti South MP) during a fundraiser at St Mary's Catholic Church yesterday. [PHOTO: DAVID GICHURU/Standard]

The debate on Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid is not about to go away any time soon.

This is despite his gag order on the debate because of its political link to next year’s elections.

Jubilee MPs yesterday sought to draw a link between recent utterances on Ruto banking on Central Kenya’s support in 2022 and campaigns for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election.

The leaders accused those claiming Central Kenya will not back Ruto in 2022 of being part of a scheme by the Opposition to rock the ruling coalition and poison voters in Rift Valley, which overwhelmingly backed Uhuru in 2013.

Meru Governor Peter Munya stoked further controversy by suggesting that it was premature for anyone to suggest that the region’s 2022 presidential candidate was a foregone conclusion.

The Jubilee legislators, speaking at a church function in Nairobi, accused nominated Senator Paul Njoroge of being compromised to rock the boat from within.

Mr Njoroge has dismissed claims that he is working for the ruling coalition’s downfall, insisting he was only pointing out the folly of Jubilee running two campaigns concurrently.

Deputy Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, Senator Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), National Assembly members Dennis Waweru (Dagoretti South), Maina Kamanda (Starehe), Benson Kangara (Makadara), James Gakuyu (Embakasi North) and Rachael Nyamai (Kitui South) said some of the leaders purporting to be speaking for the Mt Kenya region were not even elected representatives.

“We know some people have been sent so that they can spoil Uhuru’s vote in Rift Valley. We want to tell them that Rift Valley will vote for Uhuru in 2017,” said Mr Murkomen.

He said the region voted for Uhuru in 2013 because of his good leadership skills and not because there was a condition for him to rally his Mt Kenya political base behind Ruto in 2022.

“In Rift Valley, we supported Uhuru unconditionally. We supported him because he is a good leader,” he added.

Mr Kamanda said Jubilee was formed by Uhuru and his deputy, and it is only them who can disown the pact they signed in the run-up to the 2013 polls.

He said Uhuru is destined to serve two terms, then back Ruto in 2022 for his two terms.

“These people should complete their terms and go home because they don’t know how Jubilee was formed. They need to know that Jubilee was formed by Uhuru and Ruto and not by them,” said Kamanda.

Mr Waweru said the ruling coalition’s line up for 2017 and 2022 is already decided and it will not allow some individuals to cause confusion among the supporters.

“As Jubilee, we know our candidate in 2017 and 2022. We know who we will support in 2022 and that is final,” he said.

The leaders were responding to Senator Njoroge, who had claimed that Ruto was blackmailing the Mt Kenya electorate to back his bid because of his support for Uhuru in 2017.

The nominated senator had claimed the region would not be bulldozed to support Ruto, but would throw their weight behind a presidential candidate of its choice.

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo had, too, made similar remarks but later renounced the utterances and joined Ruto at a public meeting in Rift Valley.

Njoroge’s recent utterances caused a storm within the ruling coalition, with locals in his Naivasha rural home denouncing him and burning his effigy.

But Munya said Njoroge’s sentiments on Ruto’s 2022 presidential ambitions were valid, adding that there were many factors at play.

The governor said he was ready to unveil a new political party for the Mount Kenya East region, as he bids for re-election in 2017, and a run for the presidency in 2022.

“You should listen to Senator Njoroge very well when he speaks. He is talking about issues that some others are too scared to talk about. We live in a democracy and it is our right, as Mount Kenya East region to vie for the presidency in 2022,” Munya told a crowd in Mikinduri in Tigania East sub-county during the Ushirika Day celebrations.

The Council of Governors (CoG) chairman said time had come for the Meru to take its place in national politics noting that the community has been acting the usher while the bridegroom enjoys all the trappings of the presidency.

“It is time the region produces the country’s President, and I am the one to deliver that dream,” he said.