Former Presbyterian Church of Eastern Africa moderator David Githii has joined the race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The cleric announced his candidature at his church in Kimbo, Juja subcounty, on Wednesday.
Githii said that he is banking on God, the evangelistic and Pentecostal churches and ‘Kenyans of goodwill’ to propel him to the house on the hill come August 2022.
“I am reaching out to all Kenyans, including those who have resolved not to vote because they don’t see a credible candidate. My word to them is, here I am, now you have a choice," the cleric said.
"I’m also reaching out to those who have not yet decided who to vote for and telling them that I am here and I won’t let them down,” he added.
He said he is still mulling over the political outfit that he will ride on to State House.
The cleric who was born in Gikambura area in Kikuyu constituency, Kiambu, joins the bandwagon of other leaders from Mt Kenya region seeking the country’s coveted seat.
They include Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi, Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wairia and business magnate Jimmy Wanjigi.
Just like other politicians seeking the top seat, Githii said that his focus will be empowering Kenyans from the bottom of the economic pyramid.
It is the same model, bottom-up strategy that has been adopted by Deputy President William Ruto.
Githii said that he will offer the country the leadership that many politicians have failed to and ensure that his administration will be development oriented.
He said most Kenyans are still languishing in poverty and most regions lagging behind development-wise due to poor leadership in the country.
“Kenya is richly endowed with politicians who are highly skilled in moving crowds with words, but the nation lacks leaders." the cleric said.
"Our political leadership ranks very low compared to other countries because they base their governance on divisions they create among Kenyans and rule with cartels,” he added.
The cleric averred that the country needs a man of God who will steer the country towards achieving developments and creating wealth for the less fortunate in the country.
“I will not be like our politicians who are led by strong greed with an aim of accumulating wealth. Those who thrive under corruption and their reason for acquiring power is to protect their ill-gotten wealth,” he said.
Githii added, his urge to vie for the top seat is lead in the frontline in slaying the corruption dragon in the country, which has seen the country’s resources end in a few people’s pockets.
He said that his administration if elected will deal ruthlessly with all graft culprits regardless of their positions in the society.
“I will seek a close and cordial working relationship with the Judiciary, law enforcement agencies and the anti-corruption commission to stem this vice," the cleric said.
"I promise to deal ruthlessly with corruption irrespective of the status of the culprits once given the opportunity by Kenyans to serve as their president,” he added.
Githii also pointed out that the country’s untamed borrowing has been a huge burden to Kenyans noting that the current and previous regimes have been borrowing beyond the country’s ability to repay.
“This is why ‘wanjiku’ is being overtaxed. As things stand now, the high rate of taxation has burdened the common mwananchi beyond bearable levels and that’s why there is a national outcry,” he said.
The cleric said that he will launch his nationwide campaigns to rally support from Kenyans.
Githii is the leader of El-Gibbor Church which he founded in 2014 after parting ways with the PCEA church in 2012.
He was defrocked from the church due to his stance and fight against homosexuality and devil worship in the church.
Before being excommunicated, Githii claimed that PCEA had failed to deal with devil worship and homosexuality in the church.
His claims were dismissed as unfounded by the church.
He served as the highest-ranking official of the PCEA General Assembly (moderator) between 2003 and 2009.
This is not the first time the clergyman is tossing his hat into politics.
In the 2013 general elections he vied for the Kiambu gubernatorial seat on a United Democratic Forum party ticket, affiliated to Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi.
He settled on a distant fourth with 7,787 votes in an election that was won by former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo.
Kabogo won with 487,631 votes followed closely by the incumbent James Nyoro who garnered 241,658 votes. Orange Democratic Movement’s Charles Gikaria was third with 27,987 votes.
Githii, is also an educationist and an alumnus of Thogoto Teachers Training College.
He has taught in various institutions in the country like Daystar University, St Paul University and Presbyterian University of Eastern Africa.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
