Embu politicians have affirmed their support for the referendum to amend the Constitution and
warned against the early
succession campaigns.
The 15 former MPs and MCAs assured AU envoy Raila Odinga that they will lobby residents to back the referendum if recommended by the 14-member Building Bridges team.
The politicians, led by 2017 presidential candidate Joe Nyagah, also assured Raila that they fully support his handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"We cannot afford to talk about 2022 politics. Let’s forget about it and concentrate on Building Bridges for the sake of uniting this country," Nyagah said after the Thursday meeting at Capitol Hill.
He reiterated that they resolved to back the referendum after Raila explained to them in detail about his handshake with Uhuru and the purpose of the Building the Bridges team.
The 14-member Building the Bridges team, co-chaired by lawyers Martin Kimani and Paul Mwangi, have already begun nationwide public engagements on the nine-point handshake agenda.
The Embu politicians' visit to Capitol Hill comes barely three months after their counterparts and neighbours from Tharaka Nithi and Meru met Raila where they vowed to back him for President in 2022.
"When I lost the presidential election, I called upon my brother Raila and President Uhuru to work as a team for the sake of this country. I am a happy man and delighted to see this happening," Nyagah said.
Raila pledged to take the Handshake campaign to Embu to enlighten the residents.
"It is always important to diagnose the problem if you want to solve it. That’s what we are doing with the President. We have gone through many challenges as a country. That’s why we now want peace to prevail and justice to be our shield and defender," Raila said.
He added the opposition leaders won’t split after his NASA co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka declared his unwavering partnership with Uhuru.
Kalonzo made the call last Friday in Kitui during his father's burial.
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