President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party plans to issue direct tickets to hopefuls running against Deputy President William Ruto’s allies in the Mt Kenya area in the August 9 elections, with the goal of unseating them.
Ndindi Nyoro of Kiharu, Kimani Ichung’wa of Kikuyu, Kimani Ngunjiri of Bahati, and Rigathi Gachagua of Mathira are among the DP’s regional allies.
Others who the Party eyes to unhook from their seats include Senators Susan Kihika (Nakuru) and Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a), Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau, and her equivalents Cate Waruguru (Laikipia) and Beatrice Nkatha(Tharaka Nithi).
These politicians have been identified as a real threat to Jubilee’s plan to gain Mt Kenya’s political soul, according to Azimio la Umoja.
“As a party, we will support candidates in places where the UDA (United Democratic Alliance) is strong, and we will retake those seats and make Jubilee the regional party,” Jeremiah Kioni, the Secretary-General of the ruling party, was quoted by Daily Nation Newspaper.
Mr Kioni, who is also the Ndaragwa MP, and his Nyeri Town colleague Ngunjiri Wambugu, speaking in Nyeri, slammed UDA-allied legislators for insulting the President in his own backyard during a rally held in the town on Saturiay.
Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, widely regarded as President Kenyatta’s replacement as Mt Kenya’s political kingpin and a likely running mate for ODM leader Raila Odinga, said: “We are putting together our campaign team.”
The objective is to use consensus to support strong candidates in order to prevent ‘not-so-serious’ candidates from sabotaging the vote.
