Kitui gubernatorial aspirant Jonathan Mueke has expressed displeasure at the mtu wetu (kinsmanship) politics.
In a statement on Monday, the former Nairobi deputy governor said it was wrong for local leaders to ask residents not to vote for a presidential candidate from an ethnic group other than their own.
He was referring to speeches made during a burial ceremony he attended in Mwingi last Saturday alongside Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Mueke said he was concerned that leaders played an ethnic card in their speeches.
“These comments, coming from people I hold in high regard were deeply disappointing,” he said.
Mueke is advancing the hustler nation agenda and popularising its presidential candidate, William Ruto, in Kitui and Ukambani. He said kinsmanship politics belongs in the past.
The gubernatorial aspirant said times had changed and should the Kamba people be interested in solutions to their problems, they must be ready to change with the times.
He, however, said he respects the desire for any ethnic group to have one of their own as president.
“However, it is clear that the 1.5 million Kamba vote basket cannot by itself make one president. We should, therefore, join hands with other communities and seek their votes, which, when put together, will create a formidable bid for the top office,” Mueke said.
He at the same time said that among the 2022 presidential aspirants, only Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga stand the chance to occupy the house on the hill.
“The reality is that the only two presidential candidates who have nationwide support, wide acceptance and recognised networks around the country are the deputy president and former prime minister,” Mueke said.
He wooed the community to support Ruto.
“We should, therefore, align ourselves with his presidential bid. As a community, we will benefit from Ruto’s bottom-up ideology and his actualisation of the Ukambani economic blueprint,” Mueke said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
