Uhuru Kenyatta to launch his re-election campaign in Central Kenya

President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the Central Kenya Agricultural show in Nyeri on Thursday, a day before the launch of campaigns for the repeat presidential election. Photo: Mose Sammy, Standard

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to launch his re-election campaign in Central Kenya on Friday.

Uhuru is also expected to meet leaders from the region at Sagana State House this morning before embarking on the campaign trail.

Uhuru, who arrived in Nyeri Thursday to open the Central Kenya Agricultural show, has been meeting delegations and campaigning in other regions, but he had not launched his re-election bid in the region.

Thursday, leaders from across the region conceded that there has been little political activity in the region following the nullification of Kenyatta’s victory.

Prior, to the August 8 polls, leaders from Mt Kenya region were a common feature in pro-Uhuru political meetings and rallies.

According to Independent, Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC), the official campaigns started on September 6 and will run until October 15.

Avoiding campaigns

Political pundits in the region argue that most elected leaders have given the campaigns a wide berth after securing their positions during the August 8 poll.

Already, some of the losers in the August polls are accusing governors, senators, MPs and MCAs of abandoning Uhuru campaigns.

“We want to take over these campaigns now that JP elected members have gone to slumber after winning their respective seats,” remarked Wambugu Nyamu, a loser in Nyeri senatorial race.

But speaking at PCEA Karatina, Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina, Mathira MP Rigathe Gachagua and Kanini Kega (Kieni) said they had launched door-to-door campaigns to seek out those who did not vote in the August 8 polls, to urge them to vote on October 17.

“We want to raise voter turnout from 86 per cent to 95 per cent to make Uhuru’s win more emphatic,” said Gachagua.