President Uhuru Kenyatta will conduct a series of development tours in Mt Kenya and explain why the region should back Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
Raila will however not accompany the president on his tours which will start in Nyeri County. Uhuru will use the opportunity to convince his natives to vote in one pattern like in the past.
Yesterday, Jubilee director of elections and Kieni MP Kanini Kega said the president will launch Mwai Kibaki Hospital which changed its name from Kenyatta National Hospital Othaya Annex after the death of the third president.
He will also launch the Sh350 million Narumoru level Four Hospital with a 170-bed capacity before visiting Chaka market which has been upgraded at a cost of Sh1 billion.
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The president gave orders stopping government officials from launching and commissioning the projects in what was seen as a strategy to de-horn Deputy President William Ruto who had embarked on countless trips to the region to lay the foundation.
After launching the projects, the president will then commission the apparel centre project at Karicheni location which will tailor military and police officers’ uniforms and employ over 5,000 youth.
He will visit Kimathi University and lay a foundation stone for the Sh3 billion Cancer Centre at the institution.
“The president will also use the opportunity to thank Mt Kenya residents for voting him for ten years and bid us goodbye. We are privileged that his goodbye is by way of launching and commissioning development projects,” Mr Kega said.
He said Uhuru will also enumerate the development projects initiated in Mt Kenya since he was elected president. This will be the second time the president will camp in his backyard and try to put his house in order.
In February, the president through his Presidential Delivery Unit Secretary Andrew Wakahiu, while using graphs enumerated the projects the Jubilee government has initiated in the region to over 5,000 delegates.
From water connections for 600,000 households from 400,000, 1.9 million title deeds and employing 28,000 discipline forces of the total 50,000 employed nationally, Uhuru sought to demystify the notion created by Ruto and his camp that Mt Kenya has been neglected by his administration.
“He can’t be a man of two facets, taking credit for development projects in one month while inciting the region on the other. They have looted monies meant for agriculture and are to blame,” Uhuru said in February.
But unlike meeting his natives at State Lodge where only invited guests are present, the president has not been seen in a public rally.
His visits have been planned and then postponed at the last minute in what has been interpreted differently by his accusers and supporters.
The accusers claim he fears being heckled by locals who feel let down, while supporters say Uhuru knows when to pounce politically.
“Politics is like a chess game; one must know when to do what. The president is strategic and a timely smart politician, visiting the region to launch projects now is a strategic move that will deal Ruto and his team the last blow,” said Gatanga MP Nduati Ngugi.
He said he expects the president to launch the 61km Ithanga-Gatiiguru road that connects Kenol Murang'a road at Mbombo with Kenol Nyeri road at Gakungu and Thika Garissa road at Macvast, constructed at a cost of Sh2.5 billion.
He said the president ordered minimum political campaigns when he was working, but he can now talk to his people ’man to man’.
“When he sets his foot on the ground and campaigns, he will sway the undecided vote. Karua has already made strides against Tanga Tanga and with Uhuru’s visit, the presidency will be Azimio’s to lose,” said the MP.
However, leaders who support Deputy President William Ruto claim Uhuru will go home a frustrated politician.
“He should retire a statesman but if he chooses mudslinging, he will be frustrated and sad. He should let Raila fight off with Ruto since he will not be on the ballot. His natives will defy him and he will be embarrassed,” Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said.
