County News
Central leaders flock to Raila, criticize Ruto and his allies
A section of central leaders with NASA leader Raila Oding, (Courtesy)
NAIROBI—Just a day after the Kikuyu Council of Elders asked Deputy President William Ruto to retire in 2022, more than 30 prominent Mount Kenya politicians, businessmen and professionals met Raila for about three hours yesterday.
The leaders addressing the media after meeting Raila, demanded that the president must be allowed to deliver on the Big Four Agenda and the fight against corruption.
Former Senate deputy speaker Kembi Gitura, former MPs Jamleck Kamau and Kabando wa kabando, and Democratic Party Chairman John Mwaura attended the meeting. The Mount Kenya Professionals Association was also represented.
“We have people going round the country trying to downplay the handshake. We want to tell you to stop it and put the interest of the country at heart and not your own. We are here to declare total and unapologetic support,” the former Mukurwe-ini said.
Speaking to the press at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi, the leaders yesterday asked Uhuru to continue working with Raila and mercilessly crack the whip on those opposed to the handshake and lifestyle audit.
The comments were seen to be directed at the DP and his allies who are publicly lukewarm about the truce and quietly but vigourously opposed to the new anti-graft war including lifestyle audits.
On Tuesday, Aldai MP Cornelly Serem named Uhuru’s brother Muhoho Kenyatta among sugar barons smuggling the contraband sugar in what was seen as a tit-for-tat in the anti-graft war. However, though an import licence was granted, none was imported.
Political allies of Deputy President led by Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen have been on record dismissing the president’s directive on lifestyle audits for all civil servants, claiming that it lacks legal backing.
Yesterday, Ngunjiri said that if Duale and Murkomen fail to resign, they would begin the process of kicking them out.
“If they do not do so [resign], I will be requesting our Party leader Uhuru Kenyatta to call for a Parliamentary Group meeting where we can discuss their conduct with the aim of kicking them out of those two offices,” he stated.
They urged the President and Raila to remain together and correct the mistakes that were made in the 1960s.
