Details of President Uhuru Kenyatta's Tuesday meeting with local leaders in Nakuru continue to emerge amid escalating political tensions.
Uhuru toured the cosmopolitan region where two MPs were kept at bay for their alleged association with Deputy President William Ruto.
Senator Susan Kihika and David Gikaria were locked out of the president's function.
But details now reveal that Uhuru vowed to de-whip elected leaders engaging in early campaigns, arguing that he will instead directly work with people.
Uhuru maintained that he will not be sucked to early campaigns, arguing that he will instead focus on working for the people.
“Allow me to be coming to places like this on my own and do what you expect from my government. Forget about those who are going around campaigning. They won’t suck me into their gimmicks,” Uhuru said, according to Standard.
Another elder said the President was particularly angered by a section of Mt Kenya leaders who have shown him total disrespect while those from the Rift Valley region remained respectful to Ruto.
“It is a fact that Mt Kenya leaders have been insulting him in public. He has an issue with this habit. He pointed out that Rift leaders had issues with his Deputy but had not disrespected him (Ruto) as much,” said the elder.