A rallying call on one vernacular station has been dismissed as fear mongering for encouraging people to register as voters to protect ‘Úthamaki’.
Meaning “kingdom” or ‘kingship’, the recording that is being aired on the station is also being circulated on social media and those opposed to it say it is breaching efforts to unite the country.
Radio presenter Ciku Muriuki has been very vocal opposition such manoeuvres.
In a Facebook post, she said: “This one I have to speak on, and if I'm called a traitor, so be it. A certain vernacular station is running ads urging its listenership to register as voters enmasse in order "kurangira uthamaki" (defend the kingship). What tribalist garbage is this? Shouldn't people register simply because it's their civic right? Let me tell you...as a member of said community, I will not be defending any uthamaki because it's not mine. I'm a broke, job hunting Kenyan. The only thing I should defend is my WIFI password and my taxes from being looted. All else is folly. Ati kurangira uthamaki. Uyu akiri urimu. Pu.”
Ciru’s opinion attracted a lot of support and some criticism.
“It looks like my post yesterday upset a lot of people. And that is your right. If your identity depends on defending Uthamaki, that's fantastic. However, if you are going to defend Uthamaki, do so because you believe in the current holder of Uthamaki...not because you have been told that it is your tribal duty to do so. That would be doing yourself...and him...a great disservice. Also if you're waiting for me to apologize for MY opinion, you will be waiting a long, LONG time,” she said.
The audio clip circulating on WhatsApp is voiced by a popular vernacular comedian.
The byte says: “Failing to do so might make you end up regretting. Family, why should you let go of this kingdom? Why should you let this kingdom be taken by other tribes really? Are you aware that we've been threatened by these people?”
Late last year, there were speculations that voters in Central Kenya are apathetic to the election in August. Some had said they would abstain from voting since there were no visible benefits from the government since it came to power.
Corruption in government and lack of legal action by the government has been a thorn in the flesh for many accusing authorities of reluctance to fight grand theft.
Political commentator and Kiambu County sports CEC Machel Waikenda in December said that there seems to be voter apathy among Jubilee supporters across Kenya’s Central region. He said that whether real or perceived, most of the voters said they will not wake up on election day.
In a piece published by the Star, Waikenda said, “This is a very dangerous trend for Jubilee because the 2013 election was won because of the 90 per cent turnout in this region, and other President Uhuru Kenyatta strongholds. What seems to be shaping up is that a small shift in turnout will take Jubilee to a runoff, which can easily be decided by a minority.”
“A runoff is not something that Uhuru should look forward to because it can easily turn him into a one-term president,” he said.
Waikenda said, “It is time that the Jubilee campaign team creates a strong narrative that will excite and mobilise its base. A clear-cut narrative, with a mix of achievements and politics will ensure Jubilee strongholds vote for Uhuru in 2017. It’s only through the president’s personal plea that Mt Kenya region voters will come out in large numbers.”
This advice seems to have been taken in and if the campaign on the radio station that is linked to the president’s family is anything to go, then more is on the way.
Waikenda said, “Jubilee supporters must also wake up and realise that failure to vote is a vote for the opposition. If we, as Jubilee supporters, do not want the opposition to lead us next year, we must appreciate what the President has done for this country, stand by him and ensure we vote in large numbers in August 2017.”