Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary General Francis Atwoli has told leaders from regions outside Central Kenya to go slow on the presidency because the journey is still far for them to occupy the country's top seat.

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Atwoli said members of the Kikuyu community are wealthy enough to control Kenya economically as well as politically.

He said the advantage of politicians outside Central is that majority of their residents come from humble backgrounds that they cannot raise sufficient funds for campaigns against their Mt Kenya counterparts.

"We need regional economic empowerment and we can suspend presidency for now. Let us make regions like Rift Valley, Nyanza, Western, Eastern, Coast and North Eastern to be economically viable first," he said at a church service along Jogoo Road in Nairobi.

"That's only when we can return to the centre and tell our Kikuyu friend that they have been at the presidency and we are tired. Because only two Kikuyu's can raise Sh1.2 billion for the presidency. If you people are going to fight for the presidency, you will fight for it everyday."

He added: "They (Kikuyu) have a stake, they have a shareholder. They have shareholders in government because they have cash."

So far leaders from outside Mt Kenya region who have expressed interest in contesting for the presidency include Governors Dr Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and former Meru Governor Peter Munya.

Deputy President William Ruto also intends to vie. Opposition chief Raila Odinga and Baringo Senator Gideon oi have not publicly hinted at contesting for the country's top seat.