After devouring heaps of 'nyama choma' and crates of beer, Uhuru Kenyatta's first attempt in electoral politics had been sealed.
The conspiracy against Uhuru was so well calculated that it would see Jomo's son lose so badly in Gatundu South parliamentary race in 1997 that he would later contemplate quitting politics for good.
So, what was this conspiracy all about? Well, on December 8, 1997, Uhuru Kenyatta presented his papers to the Electoral Commission of Kenya to run for Gatundu South parliamentary seat on a Kanu ticket.
His main challenger was one Moses Mwihia. Everything looked fine according to Daily Nation as Kenyatta had run an impressive campaign and seemed set to win by a landslide.
However, the paper notes that Uhuru was about to learn one of the most important lessons of his life.
"Moses Mwihia knew how to set up a perfect snare. For a man whose surname meant 'sinner' Mwihia had no qualms about setting up a sinful conspiracy if it could help him become the next Gatundu South MP," the Nation reports.
The meeting where Uhuru's fate was sealed was reportedly held at a bar in Thika towards the end of October.ahead of December 27 elections.
"If something monumental didn’t happen in the remaining 30 days, Moses Mwihia would lose to his 36-year-old rival....All the ingredients were there. The people would be told a powerful Kenyatta family and the Daniel arap Moi regime had kidnapped a peasant candidate who had come to liberate the people from strong forces. In fact, they had killed him and thrown the body into a river. It was as simple as that," adds the Nation.
Interestingly, one of the participants in the conspiracy was Samuel Mwihia Kariuki, a nephew of Moses Mwihia and the current Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, now a fierce defender of Kenyatta
Ngengi Muigai is also said to have been part of the scheme though he never participated in the mischief against his cousin.
"The family was clearly divided because Ngengi was supporting Moses Mwihia," the Nation says.
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