President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto. He is expected in Kirinyaga today. [Photo: ibtimes.co.uk]
Political fireworks are expected between Jubilee Party nominees and independent candidates as President Uhuru Kenyatta takes his campaigns to Kirinyaga tomorrow (Friday).
President Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party brigade is expected to traverse and drum up re-election support in various towns within Kirinyaga where a tug of war between aspirants eyeing various seats in the country has intensified.With hours left to Uhuru’s Kirinyaga visit, governor hopeful and former Devolution Cabinet Secretary (CS) Anne Waiguru has asked locals to ignore aspirants contesting as independent candidates and heed Uhuru’s call to vote six-piece on August 8.Waiguru said that the voting will strengthen President Kenyatta’s muscles in the Senate, the National Assembly and the County Assemblies if he wins re-election.She said that if other candidates from smaller parties and independents are elected then Jubilee will not be able to deliver on its manifestos.“Let’s heed to President Kenyatta’s advice and vote six-piece to enable him to propel the country's development agenda forward once he wins re-election,” she said as quoted by the Star.On Wednesday, Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua who is facing off with Waiguru in the gubernatorial race lamented over Uhuru’s call for six-piece voting pattern.Karua said that calls for six-piece voting are hurting independent candidates and aspirants from smaller parties.The former Gichugu MP is seeking the governor seat on her Narc Kenya party ticket. Incumbent Governor Joseph Ndathi is seeking re-election as an independent candidate.President Kenyatta has been calling on locals in his strongholds to vote six-piece.On Wednesday, the rivalry between JP nominees and independent candidate played out during Uhuru’s campaign tour in Murang’a County.Uhuru’s planned meeting with Murang’a county leaders at Blue Post hotel failed to take place on Wednesday after a section of politicians led by Kiharu MP Irungu Kangata engaged in a heated exchange.Kangata allegedly wanted Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura alongside other independent candidates ejected from the meeting that was to be chaired by President Kenyatta.Political analysts warn that President Kenyatta is likely to lose out on majority votes if he ignores independent candidates and continues to root for six-piece voting.