A speech that ex-Starehe MP Maina Kamanda made during the burial of Benga musician Joseph Kamaru’s burial is eliciting political discussions within Mt Kenya region.
During the burial, we reported how Kamanda, despite the fact that MPs were not speaking, ‘sneaked’ his way into the program and delivered a political message.
Kamanda said that the Mt Kenya voters would not allow anyone to ‘sell them’.
“We as Kikuyu do not have another leader or spokesman except President Kenyatta. Even after five years into your retirement Mr President, you will still be our spokesman. Some people (read Kikuyu MPs) should stop taking Kikuyus for granted. Kikuyus will not to be taken to a market place to be sold like commodities,” the nominated MP said.
Kamanda spoke the words in front of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.
Political pundits have been trying to dissect Kamanda’s remarks on whether they were directed at Ruto who is doing a disguised 2022 campaigns using a clique of young MPs from the region and if they had blessings from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
A close study of Uhuru’s body language shows him smiling at some point as Kamanda speaks.
Ruto’s allies from the region, led by MP Moses Kuria and Kimani Inchug’wah, have openly hit out at Kamanda over the remarks.
“I am not aware of a marketplace, neither a seller, nor a buyer, nor a transaction price for Kikuyus. I am equally surprised to learn that there has been a fight between Kikuyus and Luos. What we have had are candidates from Luo and Kikuyu communities. Some have won and some have lost. Losing an election is not a national crisis to warrant a constitutional change,” Kuria said.