An Anglican priest who recently declared his interest for the governor seat in Murang’a county claims he has received several death threats. Rev Peter Karanja said he has been trailed twice by unfamiliar people in a car and narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt in Nairobi. Karanja said his life is in danger and alleged that those threatening him could be his rivals or their supporters.
The mobile phone text message seen by the Star had warned that if he does not drop his ambitions and refrain from Murang’a county politics his family and his supporters will regret dearly. The sms, written in Kiswahili, states that if he loves his family it would be advisable for him to abstain from politics and focus on his priestly vocation.
Karanja said he received the death threats on December 14 and reported the matter at Buru Buru police station where CID officers took up the matter and also gave him security officers to guard him. He said preliminary investigations by police revealed that the text message had been sent from around Golden palm hotel at Kenol Town in Murang’a.
However according to the aspirant police are yet to arrest anyone in connection with the incident but said he had been informed that investigations are ongoing. He said a few weeks ago he was trailed by a vehicle near Saba Saba town but managed to change route confusing the suspected assailants who he said were in a saloon car. “I will move on with my campaigns since I am not after power or money but to deliver my county from the myriad problems it is currently going through ranging from poverty and dwindling education standards, “said Rev. Karanja.
He appealed to all aspirants running for various seats next year to conduct mature campaigns and desist from politics of intimidation and threats. “Such nonconformist methods of scaring competitors were out dated politics and electorates should also reject such leaders if known, “said Karanja.
The man of God said no amount of pressure would make him abandon his ambitions of becoming the first governor in the County. The message further said that it does not matter where he was born and grew up or whether he had lived in United States or not but he would be taught a reason if he does not heed to the warning.
Karanja was the first candidate to declare interest for the governor seat in Murang’a County and he is among a growing list of aspirants eying for the same. The seat has however attracted several candidates who include former Roads Assistant minister Joshua Toro, Local Government Permanent Secretary Karega Mutahi, former KCC Managing Director Francis Mwangi, Bishop Karechio and Murang’a County Initiative Chairman Dr Moses Mwangi.
