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Cate Waruguru with Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto’s allies are crying foul after at least two churches from Mt Kenya region blocked their boss from attending church service that had already been scheduled.

The DP Ruto’s allies who are advocating for his 2022 presidency are now accusing the State of blocking his planned visit to Kieni.

This after the two churches he was scheduled to attend service in cancelled his events. 

DP Ruto, who is currently holding meetings with a section of Mt Kenya leaders, was scheduled to attend service in Mbiriri, Nyeri County on Sunday September 5, but at least two churches have pulled the plug on the events at the last minute.

His weekend itinerary was supposed to culminate in a Sunday service at PCEA Mbiriri but the leadership withdrew the invitation.

The DP’s allies claim that Kieni MP Kanini Kega was behind the withdrawal of the invitation.

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua accused Mr Kega of sabotaging the itinerary.

“Let me advise my good friend that when people offer help to his constituents he should not block it. We are aware he is trying to use the police to block the DP but he will come anyway,” Mr Gachagua said.

Following the withdrawal by PCEA and at least one more church, the DP is said to have settled on Full Gospel Church, still in Mbiriri, where he will worship alongside a battery of other politicians.

At least 45 MPs from Mt Kenya and Nairobi have been holding meetings at the Aberdare Prestige and Royal Cottages in Kieni East.

They endorsed DP Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid and agreed to use the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party to seek elective posts in the next general election.

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Barely two days after the Court of appeal upheld the High Court decision that declares the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) as null and void, Deputy President William Ruto is touring Mt Kenya region.

The second in command who has been in celebratory mood since the Court of appeal delivered its ruling on Friday August 20, 2021 is set to tour Mwea sub county, in Kirinyaga county, to preach his Hustler Nation Gospel.

The DP has been courting Mt. Kenya region in his bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in the next year’s general election.

The self-proclaimed Hustler Nation spokesperson Dennis Itumbi on Sunday morning shared photos of DP Ruto and his allies at his Karen residence in Nairobi, saying that they were off to Mwea.

DP Ruto has been arguing that the constitutional amendment through BBI process was meant to block his presidential bid.

Celebrating the court of appeal ruling on Friday evening, Ruto prayed that God helps his team which he termed as the coalition of the unknown, rule Kenya and engineer her economy through the bottom up model.

Ruto believes that Kenya’s economy can only be reignited by using the bottom up economic approach.

This is the narrative that he has been selling to Kenyans, ad it is the same gospel that he will be preaching in Kirinyaga.

He believes that the economy can only be revived if the low-earning Kenyans, that is boda boda operators and mama mbogas are empowered.

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Three Mt Kenya region MPs have dumped Deputy President Dr William Ruto’s camp, and declared their support for President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The three Kirinyaga lawmakers have said that they have ditched DP Ruto’s Tanga Tanga camp, and vowed to be loyal to Jubilee party, and its party leader.

The Mwea MP Kabinga Wachira, Gichugu MP Robert Gichimu and Kirinyaga Central’s John Wambugu were welcomed by Interior PS Karanja Kibicho who addressed a number of public gatherings as he inspected development projects.

The MPs have been supportive of Ruto’s 2022 political campaigns.

They have however, disowned the Tanga Tanga movement and said their loyalty was strictly to President Kenyatta and the Jubilee Party.

A number of MCAs who have been supportive of the DP’s forays in Mt Kenya also disowned him.

Ruto is now left with Kirinyaga Woman Rep Purity Ngirici who is the only elected politicians who has stood with the DP.

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Controversial political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has hinted at the next Mt Kenya kingpin.

Ngunyi, in an interview with K24 on Sunday night, identified Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe as the man who might be picked to lead the region henceforth, terming him ‘the possible chief in waiting’.

“CS Mutahi Kagwe is a possible chief in waiting among the Kikuyus,” said the man behind the ‘tyranny of numbers’ prediction, where he foresaw Uhuru enjoying the backing of majority of MPs ahead of his 2013 election, a prophecy that came to pass.

He based the observation on Kagwe’s performance in his current position, stating that he has done a brilliant job as the main man in the ongoing battle against the Coronavirus pandemic.

He said that he can see another former President Mwai Kibaki in the CS, adding that he might end up leading the Kikuyu community as Kibaki did between 2002 and 2013, before handing over to Uhuru.

“I think he has done his job splendidly. He interned in the school as Kibaki. He speaks and acts like Kibaki,” he added.

But his remarks might not amuse Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru, who until recently, was being seen as one of the frontrunners in the race to take over from Uhuru come 2022.

Waiguru has been very vocal about Mt Kenya affairs lately, which has made her appear interested in leading the community post Uhuru.

Last year, she said that the region is ready to support former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the presidency. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM ) leader has for a very long time been unwanted in the region.

A number of commentators have also been suggesting that she might feature in the next government, especially in case of an expansion of the executive, as a representative of the region.

Watch the video below:

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Muranga County Governor Mwangi wa Iria has declared that he will contest for presidency in 2022.

He has urged Mt Kenya leaders to respect President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of 2022.

Speaking at Ihura Stadium on Monday, he said he has all the qualifications required to vie for the seat, adding he will campaign for the seat against Deputy President William Ruto and other contestants.

He has hence registered his own political party known as the Civic Renewal Party

He also cautioned those engaging in political supremacy battles, especially in the Mt Kenya region should know that he has also joined the fight.

He said he was the only governor in the Mt. Kenya region to be re-elected in the last elections.

Wa Iria is mainly known for the multimillion-shilling dairy project that his county government has established which has seen local farmers receive a constant Sh35 per litre as other counties grapple with milk glut.

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Mt Kenya Council of Elders has asked Deputy President Dr William Ruto to pick Agriculture cabinet secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri as his running mate ahead of 2022 President Uhuru Kenyatta succession battle.

The council through its chairman Paul Mwati said Kiunjuri has all it takes to be the running mate of Ruto.

“Kiunjuri is no doubt a career and seasoned politician who joined active politics in 1997 as a MP for Laikipia East at a tender age of 30 years and for all these years, he has made a name on Kenya’s political landscape as a fearless and candid speaking political leader,” noted Mt Kenya Council of Elders boss, Mwati.

He advised Uhuru Kenyatta to begin grooming a spokesman for Mt Kenya communities and in this case, Kiunjuri is the first among equals because in terms of leadership and experience, he is shoulder and head above many other politicians in the region.

Mwati added that if the president fails to pick a spokesman for the communities in Mt Kenya region at the right time, there is a likelihood he might leave them as political orphanage upon his retirement after the 2022 transitional election cycle.

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Security was high in and outside Sagana State Lodge on Friday as President Uhuru Kenyatta held a meeting with Mt Kenya leaders.

The meeting was attended by over 4,000 leaders drawn from the larger Mt Kenya region. Others came from Nakuru, Lamu, Eldoret, Kajiado and Nairobi.

However, guests were barred from entering the meeting venue with their mobile phones, wrist watches, wedding rings, earrings, bangles and goggles. 

This is to ensure no proceedings of the meeting, whose agenda remained a highly guarded secret, are recorded. 

Further National government administrators such as regional and county commissioners, sub-county commissioners and chiefs were not present in the meeting where journalists were denied access. 

Despite indications that Cabinet Secretaries from Mt Kenya region were supposed to attend, none of them was seen in the venue.

This is the first time President Uhuru Kenyatta is meeting Mt Kenya leaders amid bitter succession politics, which have seen the leadership split into two groups.

The head of state denied promising opposition leader Raila Odinga 2022 support and gave indication he is open to Prime Minister position.

He pleaded with Central leaders not to abandon the government agenda through pressure to endorse candidates and early political campaigns

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Populous Mt Kenya region is open to forming a political alliance with Opposition leader Raila Odinga ahead of the 2022 elections, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has said.

Ms Waiguru said a wind of political change has hit central Kenya under the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta, throwing open the region’s choice of a presidential candidate in the 2022 General Election.

“If it is Raila, he should know that the region will want a piece of his government,” Waiguru said in an exclusive interview on KTN News’ PointBlank.

Waiguru, who has had a frosty relationship with Raila, described the Orange Democratic Movement leader as ‘someone who understands the significant role that women play in Kenya’s politics.’

The cocky relationship between Raila and Waiguru hit rock bottom in 2016 after the opposition leader linked her to the multi-million shilling scandal at the National Youth Service (NYS).

Waiguru, who was at the time a powerful minister in charge of Devolution, Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, responded to Raila’s claims with a legal suit which she dropped after their hostilities ended last year following a meeting at the opposition leader’s Nairobi Capitol Hill offices.

“We discussed some serious politics. Of course we first settled the history we had together,” Waiguru said during the interview.The prevailing rapprochement between Raila and Waiguru began in November last year after she withdrew the suit and announced the launch of a new friendship,” in the interest of national development.”Raila’s political dalliance with Waiguru became even clearer last month after the former PM accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta to the governor’s wedding in Kirinyaga last month.

Waiguru tied the knot with Nairobi lawyer Kamotho Waiganjo in a traditional wedding that was attended by prominent politicians and businessmen.

“In politics, formations happen. Those who showed up at the wedding were there either to confirm their membership to emerging political formations or friendship,” she said.

Asked whether she had made up her mind on a joint political formation with Raila ahead of 2022 elections, Waiguru said it was too early to decide.“It was not really about future formations, but to support Mr Kenyatta’s decision to shake hands with Mr Odinga. You know this country was not in good shape after the 2017 elections,” she said.

Waiguru said she had assured the ODM leader of her unwavering support for the handshake through ongoing activities of the Embrace Kenya team.

Waiguru delved deeper into politics of the day with a strong opposition to Dr Ekuru Aukot’s Punguza Mizigo referendum Bill that seeks to reduce elective positions among other key constitutional changes.She said the Bill risks locking out women from adequate representation in the political arena, ‘an issue Raila himself is against.’

“Raila understands the challenges women are facing. He has spoken firmly about it even during the funeral of Joyce Laboso (the former Bomet Governor),” Waiguru said, insisting that women must have representation at the executive level.

Waiguru’s warming up to Raila stands in stark contrast with past speculation that she was angling to be Deputy President William Ruto’s running mate in 2022.

The governor was, however, categorical that her new dalliance with Raila does not mean she was turning her back on the DP who did not show up during her wedding.

She said attendance of the wedding was voluntary and the absence of Dr Ruto should not be misinterpreted to mean a souring of the relationship between them.“Being a member of the Jubilee Party, we have to separate matters concerning the party from those of the handshake. President Kenyatta is the party leader and Dr Ruto is the deputy party leader,” she said adding that “when time comes, we will make a decision on the direction the party will take.

“Ultimately, Kenyans will determine who will run the country. It is not an individual’s decision.”Waiguru insisted that in the meantime, she will continue to position herself as the voice of Mt Kenya region ready to take the mantle of leadership if considered in 2022.

“If you go to our region, people are talking and assessing. President Kenyatta will lead us in making a decision as Mt Kenya on how the political formation will look like.“Whether it is Raila or someone else, the presidential candidates must to know Mt Kenya needs representation at the top. At the moment, it would be preemptive. We are open and are uniting,” she said.

Waiguru said she was sitting pretty having cleared all obstacles that were weighing her down and threatening her positioning as a voice in Mt Kenya region.She cited the clearance of corruption allegations following the loss of about Sh791 million at the NYS during her tenure as Devolution Cabinet Secretary.

The governor, however, maintained that she had serious reservations as to how investigators handled the matter, saying it did not meet her expectations.

“The investigations have vindicated me, but not as I would have preferred it done. Simply put, if you have been investigated, it is made public, you go through swinging doors, press statements are issued saying they are investigating but when they don’t find anything, they keep quiet,” she said.

“When they find that there is nothing, and they do not make it public, they leave room for speculation.”On the flip side, Waiguru said, the allegations had come as a blessing in disguise having catapulted her into her new role as an elected leader in Kenya.

“There were lots of rumours and politicisation of the issues. It was a tough time for me as an individual but if you look at how it eventually got me where I am, I think you sometimes have to go through such challenges,” she said.

Besides, Waiguru said the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a long running petition challenging her election as Kirinyaga governor had relieved her. Ms Martha Karua, her rival for the gubernatorial seat, had until last week fought a long-drawn legal battle seeking to nullify Waiguru’s election.

The governor also revealed that her recent marriage to Mr Kamotho was another step towards earning acceptance in Mt Kenya region.She promised Kenyans to be on the lookout for “a more aggressive Waiguru” that will seek to unite the region and stop it from falling apart.Waiguru lashed out at some leaders she accused of sowing seeds of disunity in Mt Kenya region through false claims of neglect and alleged plot to assassinate DP Ruto.

“There are people working hard to split the region so that we have no voice and representation in the future,” the governor said adding that “assassination claims were meant to isolate Mt Kenya.

CREDITS: Source Link

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