All posts by Ian Amulega

Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria now says he was very bitter with his neigbours following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit on Monday August 1.

This even as the vocal lawmaker blasted Uhuru for commissioning multi-billion projects in Mt. Kenya with just barely a week to the August 9 general election.

In a statement, Kuria stated that Gatundu North residents should have tried to pretend that all was well while the Head of State was addressing them.

“Gatundu North. I am very upset with you. Is this how you respond to a visitor, a neighbour, a President ?”
says Kuria.

Kuria termed Uhuru’s move as a ploy to hoodwink Kiambu residents into Azimio La Umoja Coalition corner, which in an open defiance, the two-time Gatundu South lawmaker maintained that all was not lost and freedom was on its way.

*President Uhuru Kenyatta launching a Ksh. 24bn Karimenu II Dam in Gatundu. PHOTO: COURTESY*

Uhuru toured Kiambu County to commission the Ksh24 billion Karimenu II Dam which was conceived in 2019 under the government’s Vision 2030.

“I know you have gotten absolutely nothing from his 10 years as President and your constituency lacks water despite you hosting Ksh24 Billion Karimenu Dam, but you should have tried to pretend. Anyway, freedom is coming tomorrow my dear neighbours,”
added Kuria.

Kuria is running for Kiambu county top seat under his party Chama Cha Kazi, an affiliate party of the Kenya Kwanza coalition. He seeks to dislodge incumbent James Nyoro, who is defending his seat on a Jubilee ticket, an affiliate party of Azimio coalition.

He won his first and second term in Gatundu South on a Jubilee ticket but fell out with the Head of State after the handshake between Uhuru and Raila in March 2018. This was followed by his ouster as the Vice Chairperson of the Transport, Infrastructure, Public Works and Housing Committee in the National Assembly.

Kuria reiterated his controversial statement that the Mt. Kenya region had been neglected in infrastructure development compared to the rest of the country by the Jubilee government.

The President also issued 14,000 title deeds to Gatundu North residents, after which he drummed up support for Raila Odinga, Azimio’s flag bearer and his running mate Martha Karua.

“Don’t vote for thieves or else you will regret it. Be very careful not to vote for thugs because I wouldn’t want to hear that you are in the cold. There are those moving around speaking so nicely to you and making weird promises, but their deeds and talks behind the scenes are venomous. I plead with you to be wary of these people,”
Uhuru told Gatundu residents.

The president noted his deputy and allies have been touring Mt Kenya region, tarnishing his name to an extent of dragging his mother, former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta, in their dirty politics, instead of supporting him in his development agenda and uniting the country.

Politics & Governance

DP Ruto confronts Matiang’i, NIS over leaflets circulating in his backyard

August 2, 2022 Ian Amulega

Deputy President William Ruto has accused senior government officials of being behind leaflets being circulated in Uasin Gishu and other parts of the North Rift region.

Speaking during a rally in Eldoret on Monday, August 1, Ruto alleged that the plot was being orchestrated by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and his Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho.

Further, he called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to take action against the two adding that they were constantly meeting with chiefs to manipulate the vote.

“Mr President, just as you reprimanded DCI boss George Kinoti, you should do the same to Matiangi and Kibicho. They should go home.

“We cannot go from where we came from. The tactic of spreading leaflets so that people can differ is something that will not happen. You will not succeed because we have decided that we cannot go back and fight over politics,” he stated.

Further, he urged his supporters to be wary of the government’s tactics calling on his supporters to remain calm during the electioneering period.

“Do not accept to be provoked in any manner. Violence cannot be part of the equation in this election or in any election for that matter. All candidates should carry their campaigns peacefully.”

On his part, Ruto’s running mate and Mathira lawmaker, Rigathi Gachagua, lamented over the complexity of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to take action over the leaflets. He called on the NIS boss, Major General Philip Wachira Kameru to take action against his officer involved in the scheme.

*Interior CS Fred Matiangi during the launch of the first-ever National Risk Assessment Report on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. PHOTO: COURTESY*

“It is too late to create a problem between communities. They have hit a snug and that is the strategy they are using. All this is planned by Kibicho, chiefs and the NIS,” Ruto’s running mate argued.

“There is also a scheme to introduce shortages of fuel from this week because they want to systematically undermine the electoral process,” Kenya Kwanza principal Musalia Mudavadi claimed.

Matiang’i and Kibicho have previously defended their meetings with the chiefs stating that the meetings were aimed at enhancing securing during the electioneering period.

The two have occasionally accused the DP and his allies of attacking them because of their popularity over former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“I am telling you now that we must stand firm against incitement. Don’t be intimidated by these politicians. They cannot take up your jobs,” Matiang’i stated at a meeting with chiefs.

“The government will give electorates free space to express their views during the election day to exercise their constitutional mandate,” Kibocho echoed.

Politics & Governance

DP Ruto blames Raila for blocking his campaigns in Nyanza Region

August 2, 2022 Ian Amulega

Deputy President and UDA Presidential candidate William Ruto has accused Azimio La Umoja’s Raila Odinga of blocking his campaigns in the Nyanza region.

Ruto says Raila blocked his tour of the region because he fears the people might buy into Kenya Kwanza’s agenda.

He has however assured Nyanza region residents that they will not be sidelined in his government as he will work with every community if elected president.

“We will work with the people of every part of Kenya. It is unfortunate that we cannot go to Nyanza because our friend who pretends to be a democrat cannot allow anyone to go there,” Ruto said.

He was speaking while campaigning in Eldoret town in the last minute rash to woo voters.

Yesterday, the Raila-led team toured Eldoret ton and its environment where he received a warm reception.

The icing on the cake was when 3,000 meters steeplechase record holder Ezekiel Kemboi endorsed Raila pledging his support while asking his people to vote for him in the scheduled August 9 elections.

Politics & Governance

Kihika, Tabitha Karanja absconds DP Ruto’s Rally

August 1, 2022 Ian Amulega 1 Comment

UDA gubernatorial candidate for Nakuru County Susan Kihika and her Senate counterpart Tabitha Karanja missed out on Deputy President William Ruto’s rally due to mobility challenges.

Speaking in Salgaa on Monday, August 1, Ruto explained that he was to campaign alongside Kihika and Karanja, the two experienced logistical challenges after their chopper was grounded.

He added that the was forced to change his itinerary to avoid cancelling the stop over altogether.

“I was to come along with her. We were scheduled to meet in Kipchororo but unfortunately, her helicopter was grounded because of bad weather. Tabitha was to tag along with her,” the DP stated

However, he went on to urge residents to campaign for Kihika alongside the billionaire businesswoman and Liz Chelule – who is running for Woman Representative.

The UDA flagbearer reiterated his call for the six-piece voting in the county from the Member of County Assembly (MCA) to the President in the August 9 General Election.

Ruto, who was on a tour of the Rift Valley counties held campaigns in Eldoret, Eldama Ravine, and Kabarnet, where he made a plea to Bringo Senator Gideon Moi to support him.

He claimed that Gideon had a political debt to pay to the people of the Rift Valley region who backed his father, Kenya’s second president Daniel Arap Moi.

“We have no problem with our brother Gideon Moi. When your father needed us to stand with him, we stood did and now it is your turn to stand with us.

“It is your turn to stand with your brother William Ruto, and William Cheptumo to be the Senator of Baringo county,” the Presidential candidate noted.

Meanwhile, Kenya Kwanza principals condemned the KANU party leader for siding with archrival and Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga, whom they termed their enemy.

Despite being among the frontrunners to become Odinga’s running mate and a Cabinet position in the Azimio government, Moi opted to defend his Baringo seat on the ballot.