A year to the General Election, several politicians eyeing the presidency have been making frequent tours in Murang’a County to woo voters.
They include Deputy President William Ruto, ODM leader Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula.
For decades, Murang’a was considered Mt Kenya’s political swing vote bloc but in the next elections, political analysts say the presidential candidates could be looking for a running mate from the vote-rich county.
Governor Mwangi wa Iria, who is serving his final term, last year declared he will run for president through his Usawa Kwa Wote party. He is currently recruiting members and has kicked off branding activities.
Ruto’s camp has two MPs from Murang’a Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) and Alice Wahome (Kandara) who have teamed up with Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria to dismiss the visiting leaders, claiming Murang’a is a UDA stronghold.
The presidential aspirants’ visits coincide with Iria’s delegations from various parts of the country including the Western region where he has been endearing his bid, in readiness for the campaigns.
Last week, Raila invited a delegation of youth leaders from the county and sold his agenda, including the revival of coffee farming.
The youth meeting drawn from the eight sub-counties followed the Ndaka-ini session where Raila was hosted by media owner SK Macharia to meet Central Kenya musicians under the Skiza tune project.
The youth, led by Laban Macharia of Murang’a County University Students Association (MUSA), said they asked the leaders to shun incitement and instead champion national interests.
They said contestants who incite the youth to violence will be rejected at the ballot.
“As we approach the 2022 elections, the youth and the elite must stand against tribal and ethnic politics and support nationalism,” said Macharia.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has also held several functions in the county accompanied by political strategist Prof Peter Kagwanja.
But Iria said he was not bothered by the leaders visiting Murang’a, saying his strategy will jolt Mt Kenya region and the entire country.
“In the past three months, I have been meeting delegations which include current and former governors who have shown interest in vying on Usawa Kwa Wote Party ticket. The party will get massive support from Mt Kenya residents because of what it stands for. We believe in empowering the small farmer and the family unit,” said Iria.
Mathioya MP Peter Kimari said Murang’a is the cornerstone of Mt Kenya politics. “Murang’a has more than 600,000 votes, and that’s the reason all top politicians must visit to get our backing,” he said.
Political analyst Benjamin Mwangi said the presence of presidential candidates in the county was a ploy to divide the votes to pave way for the state’s presidential choice.
“This is a scheme to scatter the votes in Murang’a like in other counties in Mt Kenya region for a preferred candidate,” Mwangi claimed.
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