Recovering Moses Kuria picks up politics where he left off in 'homecoming'

Gatundu South MP Moses is welcomed by his supporters at the JKIA airport on February 19, 2022, during his homecoming from Dubai where he was hospitalised. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria had only been in the country for a few hours when he took up a familiar chorus - eight million Mt Kenya votes cannot be given without offering something in return. 

The MP picked up the cue where he left off almost five months ago when he was admitted to the hospital.

He has spent the last three months at the American Hospital in Dubai where he had surgery to treat third-degree burns suffered from a malfunctioning heating mat.

It's clear from Kuria's gingerly walk that he is yet to return to his former self, yet his voice is nothing like his walk.

It was as gruffy as ever when he asked the crowd gathered at the roundabout in Githurai why they would want anyone to tell them who to vote for.

"Don't you have your own mind? Are you mad people?" Kuria asked in Kikuyu to a raucous response of 'hatupangwingwi'

The Thanksgiving rally at Thika Stadium was as much a mass held under the scorching sun as it was a musical extravaganza.

A reading from the Book of Samuel 1, Chapter 30 was followed by a Psalm and hymns, sermons and prayers which raised the curtain for some of the leading acts in Kikuyu popular music.

Samidoh and Jose Gatutura belted their hit songs, lip-syncing to the public address system, as did other popular Kikuyu musicians but who are lesser-known nationally.

Among those present were party leaders Martha Karua (Narc Kenya), Mwangi Kiunjuri (TSP) as well as Kiambu Governor James Nyoro, MP Patrick Wainaina and a host of other leaders.

Kuria who is also the Chama Cha Kazi Party leader landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 6am and held meetings at a hotel before leaving at 10.30am.

He made stops in Githurai and Ruiru.

In Thika, Kuria said he has been asked to take a stand - to choose between Azimio la Umoja or Ruto's UDA.

However, he said, he was in neither of the two. He was on God's side.

Kuria's message was a familiar one that no one would tell the region who to vote for.

That whoever wanted the region's vote would have to earn it. That they would have to tell the region what they will offer. 

"Do you want to choose your own leaders or do you want to be told who to vote for?" Kuria posed in Githurai.

He said that Mt Kenya was giving out its significant vote and will get nothing in return.

"If I asked President Uhuru Kenyatta, and he is my brother from Gatundu, to place on the table what he was offering the region, why won't I ask the same of these other presidential candidates?" posed Kuria.

He said that people needed to vote for leaders based on merit. 

He said that UDA would not offer free and fair nominations.

"Do you want to tell me that someone can contest the UDA ticket in Kandara and get it over Alice Wahome?" he posed.

He gave the same example, mentioning Ndindi Nyoro, Rigathi Gachagua and Kimani Ichungwah, all who are stalwarts in UDA.

Kuria also urged President Kenyatta to follow the example of former presidents Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki and hand over power peacefully. 

Narc Kenya Party leader Karua also reiterated her statement made during her party's delegates conference on Friday, urging President Kenyatta not to cling to power.  

Karua urged voters to resist attempts to have the region in one party.

She said big parties tended to be disrespectful and dictatorial.

"We fought for the repeal of Section 2A and a return to multi-party politics. Let all these parties exist so that Kenyans can decide," she said.

"You can elect who you want to be president without being in the party. Let no one lie to you that you need to be in a party to show that you support the leader."

Karua also announced that a meeting in Limuru dubbed Limuru 3 which was postponed in the wake of Kuria's hospitalisation would be held in March.

The meeting will have delegates from all counties exchange ideas about the direction the region needs to take.