Boost for President Uhuru as leaders vow to embrace Jubilee Alliance Party, spearhead voter registration drive

Mount Kenya East leaders have declared their support for Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) ahead of the 2017 General Election. Governors, Senators, MPs and MCAs from Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties are planning to galvanise the region’s unregistered voters ahead of the elections.

Speaking at a local vernacular radio station yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki, said the meeting was aimed at rallying political leaders to embrace JAP, the political vehicle that President Uhuru Kenyatta will use in 2017.

“We are going to bring all elected leaders together, to ensure there is regional unity. We want to go to 2017 elections as a compact voting bloc. We also want to embrace and popularise JAP, as President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto’s election vehicle,” said Prof Kindiki, also the Tharaka Nithi Senator.

He said the leaders will launch a campaign on voter registration to increase the numbers from the current 1.1 million, to 1.7 million by 2017. Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti said the meeting will discuss political and development matters.

“We are not meeting because we are divided in any way but to come up with a common voice ahead of the 2017 elections. We will also speak about JAP,” he said without giving further details.

The Senator further revealed that the leaders will make a public declaration on the region’s political future during the meeting at a hotel in Nkubu Meru County.

Nyangi Ndiiriri Elders chairman Andrew Ereri said the forum will help the leaders tackle common problems and bargain for a fair share of the national cake.

“In the past, Mt Kenya region voted together but seems people from Central Kenya forgot their cousins from Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties after joining the government,” said Ereri.

He proposed that the meeting should come up with a pact, such that no single county benefits at the expense of others.

Ereri noted that Embu County elected President Uhuru Kenyatta with 98 per cent votes, yet they did not benefit from appointments in the Jubilee government.

However, Meru County Assembly majority Leader Ayub Bundi said there was no way the region would go to 2017 elections with one party.

Bundi noted that Meru has 90 elected leaders and over 600 people who intend to vie for elective posts, adding that they will vie on different parties.

Meru Governor Peter Munya would attend the meeting as he is away on official duty.

– Reports by Phares Mutembei, Joseph Muchiri and Job Weru