- Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua is expected to join the team in their next meeting.
- The former Gichugu MP is working with other Mt Kenya leaders to form a single bloc for 2022 bargains.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi on Tuesday held talks with former UNCTAD secretary Mukhisa Kituyi and Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana in an escalation of his 2022 game plan.
The three, who have all declared their bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, met to chart the path for a new political alliance for the general election.
They are cobbling a coalition to be known as National Alliance for Change, which would be their political vehicle for the election scheduled for August next year.
They called for “an urgent conversation with other like-minded leaders on the change that the country needs ahead of next year’s general election”, as a matter of national interest.
In a short presser after their deliberations, the leaders announced they would hold further meetings in the weeks to come in efforts to fine-tune the new alliance.
Muturi, who is also the Mt Kenya spokesman, said they would want to bring a new style of politics in the 2022 race, condemning the chaos and division that has characterised past polls.
“We cannot change this country if we keep doing things the same way. We must depart from our chaotic and divisive politics to chart a new path for Kenya,” he said.
“That is the reason I am in this conversation with my friends Prof Kibwana and Dr Kituyi. We will expand this to be as inclusive as possible so that we can take this country forward. We are ready.”
Muturi has built an image of one who stands to restore order and discipline in the public service and is thus rallying his support around the call.
Kibwana, for his part, said, “We’re glad to take this conversation forward because things must change in this country. This is what we have been waiting for.”
Dr Kituyi added, “Kenya is not poor, but we cannot compete with the rest of the world if we keep doing things the same way. We must change and change now. This is our time.”
“Effectively, the three leaders will be having regular meetings beginning this week on how to bring the country together on a National Alliance for Change platform,” a statement from the Muturi communication team read.
Following his installation as Mt Kenya regional spokesman, Speaker Muturi has been reaching out to various leaders in a bid to mobilise a political following to bolster his chances in the race against Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
He recently met with Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua where they discussed a plan to unite Mt Kenya, an initiative that has attracted other politicians from the region.
The Narc Kenya leader, who was in a separate meeting with Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and TSP leader Mwangi Kiunjuri, is set to join the team in their next deliberations.
In their presser after meeting with four other parties in Thika, Karua and her team said they were on a campaign to unite the Mt Kenya region for it to bargain as a bloc in 2022.
In their unity of purpose, the politicians said they were committed to working together on issues affecting Mt Kenya and the nation “irrespective of their political affiliation”.
Muturi has declared that he’d go the whole hog in his presidential quest, hence his activities are geared towards consolidating support he hopes would deliver the agenda.
-Edited by SKanyara