Expect no direct ticket in 2022, Mt Kenya leaders tell DP Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto will not be an automatic successor of President Uhuru Kenyatta, some leaders form central Kenya have said.

According to five leaders from Mount Kenya, people from the region will wait for President Kenyatta to tell them the direction to take in the 2022 elections.

Speaking on Saturday evening in Sagana town, Kirinyaga County during a meeting of Kikuyu elders, the leaders accused the deputy president of undermining the President.

The leaders who spoke at the meeting included were former senators Kembi Gitura (Murang'a) and Daniel Karaba (Kirinyaga).

Others were former MPs Peter Gitau (Mwea), Joshua Toro (Kandara) and Stephen Ngare (Ndia).

"He has been going round conducting early campaigns even after he was told by the President to stop and focus on development of the country. Dr Ruto's political marriage with the President may soon be over," Mr Gitau stated.

They vowed that they will speak in one voice when it comes to the election of the next head of State.

Mt Kenya kingpin

The leaders insisted that the President is still the region's Kingpin and that they will remain united until he tells them of his preferred successor.

“Our President has an immense wealth of experience and we shall listen to him come 2022 polls. We shall not be divided by any outsider," added Mr Gitura, who is also the chairman of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority.

The leaders insisted that they respect the head of State and they will not defy him when he pinpoints to them the person who will be his preferred presidential flagbearer.

They observed that although the President had during 2017 campaigns agreed that his deputy would take over the country's leadership after he retires, that agreement may not be bidding.

"It is true the President had promised that he will govern for two terms and back Ruto to succeed him. However, the deputy president has not been cooperative enough and that narrative may change," Mr Gitau remarked.

At the same time, the leaders defended President Kenyatta's development record in the region.

“Some government critics are claiming that the President has given the region a raw deal. This is totally false as we have so many roads projects which have been done. Dams and technical colleges are also being built," Mr Karaba said.

Ignore critics

The leaders told the residents to ignore the critics and continue supporting the President Kenyatta, whom they described as hard-working.

And in a separate statement, former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti said residents of the county are fully behind the President.

“The President is doing a good job and as Embu people we are a happy," he added.

During the meeting, 25 ward representatives promised to support Mr Kivuti’s 2022 gubernatorial bid.

The MCAs said they have confidence in Mr Kivuti and vowed to mobilise residents to vote for him.