Blow to Uhuru as Mt Kenya big guns ditch Jubilee

President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Jubilee Party have suffered yet another setback as key leaders at the heart of his succession plans are deserting his camp in numbers.

The latest are the five governors from Mt Kenya, who have left the ruling party, casting doubts on the President’s control of his succession politics in his backyard ahead of 2022 polls.

On Saturday, governors Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua), Ndiritu Muriithi (Laikipia), Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru) and Kiambu’s James Nyoro announced they are divorcing Jubilee.

The four governors, who are the key footholds in ODM leader Raila Odinga’s Mt Kenya climb, said they are in discussion to build a broader consensus. The aim is the Party of National Unity and the Ubuntu People’s Forum forge a formidable political vehicle.

PNU, which was founded by retired President Mwai Kibaki in 2007, is under the leadership of Muriithi.

The newly registered Ubuntu People’s Party belongs to Kinyanjui, one of the candidates touted as Raila’s running mate in the August 9, 2022, presidential contest.

On Monday, Kinyanjui said Mt Kenya will decide who to vote for based on real issues and not the number of harambees, roadside shows or tokens to individuals.

In what appeared to target Deputy President William Ruto, who has been criss crossing Mt Kenya region, Kinyanjui said no one should boast of having a grip of the vote-rich region.

“All we ask is caution while pursuing this bloc. Do not invest too much because you are likely to regret it. From the last five elections since multipartyism, the region has voted with its heart not its head," Kinyanjui said. "Interests and only interests will reign supreme."

On Sunday, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga was the last of the Jubilee governors to announce his exit from the ruling outfit that came to power in 2013.

Kahiga announced that he will decamp to Ruto’s UDA , following his Kirinyaga counterpart Anne Waiguru, who crossed over to the hustler movement two months ago.

Kahiga has said Mt Kenya leaders will not be coerced to support Raila.

He said it was impossible to "sell" Raila in the region because his development plan was unclear.

"I want to make it clear that Mr Odinga is unsellable and very unpopular in Mt Kenya. Let the truth be told," Kahiga said in Nyeri county on Sunday during a tour by DP Ruto.

He added that campaigning for the ODM leader for the presidency was a waste of time and resources.

"Mr Odinga has not given us a reason to support him. We cannot rally behind a leader who has nothing to offer except rhetoric and lectures," Kahiga said.

Mt Kenya governors and some area MPs are said to have been directed by the President to initiate political programmes to popularise Raila in the region.

But the latest haemorrhage could deflate a move by Uhuru and Raila to consolidate Mt Kenya. It could also put the former Prime Minister — the President's preferred successor — in a precarious position as he climbs the mountain.

The decision by the governors to form their outfits, political analysts warn, could further entrench fear of a Raila presidency.

But East Africa Legislative Assembly MP Mpuru Aburi said the exit of the Nyeri governor from Jubilee had not weakened the ruling party.

“He never fought for that seat. He simply inherited it following the death of Wahome Gakuru,” he said. 

Aburi added that parties with roots in Mt Kenya will eventually team up with ODM in the run up to the 2022 polls.

The EALA legislator, who is associated with the National Ordinary People's Empowerment Union party, said they will remain in their outfits as they drum support for Raila's candidature.

“Even though we are in other parties, we will support Raila. The best thing to do now is to remain in our parties, mobilise people and then join him towards the election time,” he explained.

Aburi added that Raila's popularity in Mt Kenya region is rising steadily while that of Ruto is on the decline.

“Raila is now climbing Mt Kenya while the other guy is losing support. I am in National Ordinary People Empowerment Union but I am singing Raila ['s tune]. The ODM leader only needs 30 per cent of Mt Kenya and we will be there,” he added.

(Edited by V. Graham)