President Mwai Kibaki unusually came out in full force to support PNU’s candidates for upcoming civic by-elections in Nyeri County. Grand National Union party members had vehemently accused PNU of planning to unfairly use Kibaki’s visit as a campaign strategy.
Rare anger as Kibaki moves out to protect his Othaya turf
The President travelled to Othaya to campaign for the PNU candidate in the Karima ward while he sent a team led by Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi to campaign for the party in another ward in Mathira constituency.
The President attacked Public Works assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri and former Mathira MP Nderitu Gachagua, who have been campaigning for candidates of the Grand National Union in the two by-elections which take place on Monday.
“Some of the people who have been visiting this area with an undisclosed agenda were former MPs, and they lost. If they lost their seat, then what is it that they can tell you and yet they failed?” he asked.
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He said some people had bought the constituents motorcycles and were dishing out money, but he urged the voters to take their gifts and deny them votes as they had no leadership to offer.
He urged voters to elect the PNU candidate, Mr Zachary Kiragu, a retired primary school teacher, who he praised as development conscious, saying he had done a lot to improve education standards in the area.
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The GNU candidate in Karima ward is Mr George Maina Gichuki.
The President dismissed people he accused of “spreading the politics of hatred at night” and stopped short of naming Mr Kiunjuri and Mr Gachagua.
But his attacks, coming just hours before the by-elections, were only thinly veiled.
“We want politics of truth, but if someone comes here at night and will not show himself and state publicly what he wants in daytime … You should not listen to people who want to divide you,” he told the crowd.
He seemed disturbed by those he termed “intruders,” bent on disrupting development in Othaya.
The rivalry
The vicious battle between PNU and GNU candidates in the by-election seems to be an extension of the rivalry between Mathira MP Ephraim Maina and Mr Gachagua.
The entry of the President into the political fray left residents and observers bewildered.
The campaign tour was preceded by a meeting between local councillors and Mr Kibaki at his Harambee House office, which Mr Maina attended.
Source-http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Rare+anger+as+Kibaki+moves+out+to+protect+his+Othaya+turf/-/1064/1279944/-/4oqx53/-/index.html
