Machakos senator Johnston Muthama has dismissed claims that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tour to the region that starts today will influence locals to ditch the opposition.
On Thursday Muthama said that Uhuru’s visit to the region is not a threat to Cord dominance of the region.
He added that the visit will not change said political direction for the people adding that locals are supports of the opposition
“Ukambani region remains a Cord stronghold and no amount of Jubilee influence will change that,” said Muthama on Thursday.
The senator added that immediately after Uhuru visit Cord will launch a serious of meetings with the locals.
Muthama also defended Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka over his plans to welcome Uhuru in the region saying that the move is meant to neutralize issues and avoid a scenario where Jubilee leaders accompanying Uhuru will criticize the opposition.
Meanwhile, a political expert based in Machakos has stated that Uhuru’s three-day visit to Ukambani region is a vote hunt ahead of the 2017 general elections.
According to Mutisya Nzyoka, a political analyst based in Machakos, Uhuru’s is focused on wooing voters despite State House maintaining that the tour is meant for development.
The experts observed that the President tour of the region is clearly political.
“As much as State House claims that Uhuru’s tour to Ukambani is development oriented, the tour is largely political,” he said during an interview with this writer on Thursday.
The analyst said that Uhuru wants to take advantage of the fall out between former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua who are considered region political kingpins to woo voters ahead of next year’s polls.
The expert further observed that Ukambani remains a lucrative vote hunt for both Jubilee and opposition.
He, however, stated that the fall out between Governor Mutua and other leaders allied to the opposition is an advantage to Uhuru Kenyatta and Jubilee in general.
Governor Mutua has several times said that he will work with Uhuru Kenyatta on development.
Early this year, Wiper Party to which Governor Mutua belongs had threatened to disown him after he was accused of working with Jubilee.
Uhuru’s tour to the region starts today and will end on Sunday. While in the religion the Head of State is expected to launch various development projects in Machakos, Kitui and Makueni counties respectively.