Nakuru governor Kinuthia Mbugua [PHOTO/nation.co.ke]
The unexpected withdrawal of Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua from the race for August 8 seems to be the initial phase of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s wrath on independent candidates in his Mount Kenya and Rift Valley backyard.Mbugua opted out of the for rival Lee Kinyanjui after long negotiations with the President and DP William Ruto at State House Nakuru.Speaking in Molo town after the withdrawal was made public, Uhuru confirmed that they had brokered a peace deal between the Governor Mbugua and Jubilee nominee Kinyanjui.“We spoke last night with the two leaders and Mr Mbugua has agreed to step down for Kinyanjui,” Kenyatta said.Mbugua confirmed that he was opting out of the battle just because of the respect he had for President Kenyatta, something that insinuates Uhuru's bahind-the-scenes influence.“For the sake unity among Jubilee Party supporters and the love I have for the party. I’m collapsing my entire political structure into Jubilee,” he said.