'Uhuru has a right to manage his succession,' Peter Kenneth says

'Uhuru has a right to manage his succession,' Peter Kenneth says

File image of former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth. PHOTO| COURTESY

Former Gatanga Member of Parliament Peter Kenneth has defended President Uhuru Kenyatta's role in his succession, stating that the president has the influence to give political direction to the Mt. Kenya region ahead of this year general elections.

Kenneth said the president will lead the Jubilee troops to traverse Central Kenya, popularizing the party and its preferred presidential candidate in the vote-rich region.

"The man was running alone. Now there are other people running the race. Where is this euphoria. Lets's not create things that are probably not there... With resignations (of public servants) tomorrow, formations begin then with coalition-building we will see the real coalitions," said Kenneth.

He was speaking in Mathira, Nyeri County after the funeral of Margaret Wairimu Ngubuini,  mother to industrialist Peter Kuguru.

Kenneth rubbished the perceived lead by Deputy President William Ruto in the presidential race saying Ruto has been running alone but now other candidates have joined the race and the true front runner will be revealed.

The former lawmaker downplayed any UDA  influence in the central region saying the euphoria is a mirage adding that Jubilee party will erase any gains.

He said that people should wait for the Jubilee National Delegates Conference (NDC) where the president will give direction, noting that he (Uhuru) supports the candidature of Raila Odinga in the presidential race. 

Kenneth however said that the region should get the position of deputy president in the next government as the largest voting block in the country, adding that it is the role of the presidential candidates to select their preferred running mate.

At the funeral, Mama Ida Odinga steered clear of politics but said that the church has a huge role to play in the democratic space in the country. 

On Monday, President Kenyatta set the stage for heated political debate after declaring that he is at liberty to pick whoever he deems best to succeed him in the August General Election.

President Kenyatta, speaking in Changamwe, Mombasa County said that although he is not propping anyone as his successor, he has the freedom to select who is best suited to be president.

“Hii ni marathon, na mimi sina project ya mtu lakini nitaangalia kura yangu niweke kwa mtu ambaye nitaamini na kama mtu mmoja ama wawili wataniskiza nitawaambia mimi oni langu ni hivi,” he added.

The Head of State further advised Kenyans to choose their leaders wisely come August, warning them against anyone perpetuating hate and divisive politics.


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