National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has embarked on building political networks to popularise his presidential bid ahead of next year’s polls.
He has already declared his interest to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta who retires in August next year.
On Saturday, Muturi met Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua in Nairobi in what he termed part of the many conversations he has started in his State House race.
“This is part of many conversations that I’m holding with various leaders to elevate the agenda of national unity to the national platform,” he said.
Muturi spoke after a closed-door meeting held at Trademark hotel in Nairobi.
Karua offered her unyielding support, adding that she will rally her supporters behind the National Assembly Speaker.
“Go forward JB. You have my unreserved support in this journey. I will walk with you and rally the people to support you,” she promised.
“I look forward to public meetings where I can come with you and ask the people to back you for the top job.”
Karua is an influential political player in the Central region. She has not shown any assign of leaning either towards Deputy President William Ruto’s Tangatanga or the President’s Jubilee.
The Narc Kenya boss, an ex-Cabinet minister, was former President Mwai Kibaki’s pillar in his controversial re-election in 2007.
“Martha Karua is a key leader in this country and it was nice meeting her today. We will hold more consultations as we go along, because she’s a pillar of this unity agenda,” Muturi said.
The National Assembly boss, who is also the Mt Kenya spokesperson, said he’s focused on forging political and economic partnerships that will benefit the general public.
“In the days and weeks ahead, I will be reaching out to various leaders so that we can cement this agenda moving forward,” he said.
Muturi said he intends to work with Karua to reach out to leaders across the country to ‘have a meaningful conversation about taking our nation to the next level.’
On Friday, Muturi met tens of footwear importers and traders under the umbrella of Nairobi Traders at the Nairobi Railways Club.
The speaker urged the traders, who decried high taxation, to consider engaging MPs when the Finance Bill is being processed so that they can equally propose tax breaks that would help their businesses flourish.
Muturi said the Finance Bill is the only path for entrepreneurs to raise their outcry whenever the state seeks to subject them to repressive tax regimes.
“The Finance Bill is the one that the government uses to charge tax. Whenever it is in process, feel free to engage us [MPs] so that we can sort tax concerns before the bill is passed,” he said.
Edited by A.N
