By FRANCIS NGIGE AND JOSEPH MUCHIRI
Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential bid continues to create political fault lines among Members of Parliament and his followers in Mount Kenya region.
Although he strongly dismisses claims he was being pushed to team up with fellow DPM Musalia Mudavadi and even be his running mate, some MPs insist that this, indeed, is the case.
Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi’s warning Monday that Uhuru can only ignore the Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) at his own peril further complicates matters.
Kiraitu was blunt Uhuru should drop the TNA tag while visiting the Mount Kenya East region if the party was to receive and support him.
He revealed APK has many members from the Mount Kenya region without a presidential candidate to support except Uhuru, but frowned at the way his The National Alliance was looking down upon other political parties. He conceded this was what was making these potential Uhuru back-up parties hesitate to support him.
Seek votes
He said people should distinguish between resistance for TNA and Uhuru as a presidential aspirant, adding that his party will not resist Uhuru on condition that he comes to the region as an individual. “APK members have no problem with Uhuru visiting the region as he has the freedom of movement and the freedom of any candidate to seek votes in whichever way possible,’’ said Kiraitu.
“But should he come riding on the TNA wagon he should not expect APK, DP and other parties to be out on the road laying branches to welcome him,” he went on.
He insisted in case Uhuru declines to abide by their wishes, they will allow him to visit the region, but their members will not be anywhere near his caravan.
“When as APK we need Uhuru we will call him and call people to receive him. He has a choice to decide as a politician which is the best way for him in the Mount Kenya region,” said Kiraitu.
Speaking to journalists in Embu town, the minister predicted the next General Election will be a unique one requiring a lot of compromises and sacrifices to be made and would also call for a game of friendships.
Meanwhile, Uhuru is furious with two MPs from Central Kenya for allegedly “consistently misleading his followers”. He took issue with Assistant minister Ndiritu Muriithi and Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni for spreading “blatant lies” that TNA is set to join Mudavadi’s UDF.
Rebuking Muriithi and Kioni, Uhuru said in a statement released by his spokesman, Mr Munyori Buku, that the two had been issuing false statements about TNA.
