Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has opened up on how he and others demonised Raila Odinga in the previous campaigns to make Uhuru President.
Speaking during Raila’s round table meeting with the Ameru community in Nairobi on Thursday, September 2, Kiraitu Murungi said they also blocked Raila Odinga’s Presidency in 2007, when he was contesting against retired President Mwai Kibaki.
In order to make Uhuru Kenyatta president in the 2013 and 2017 General Election, Kiraitu said they had to make Raila look bad in the eyes of Mt Kenya voters, a crucial voting bloc in the country.
” I was part of the strategy team. There was nothing black or dark about Raila (Odinga) but we had to win presidency and we won. The truth of the matter is that Raila is actually a very clean man. A man of great means” Kiraitu Murungi said in the roundtable meeting.
In the meeting, Kiraitu Murungi announced that they have lifted the stumbling blocks imposed on Raila Odinga, and they are ready to support his presidency in 2022.
He praised Raila for his effort to fight for multiparty democracy, crediting the freedom in Kenya to him.
” The peace and freedom you enjoy today came about because of Raila. He bite the bullet for your sake” he said.
The Meru County Governor joins the long list of Jubilee Party members who have thrown their weight behind Raila Odinga.
Raila Odinga has been working hard to woo the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2022 General Election, a region known to hardly support outsiders for the presidency yet has a huge voting bloc.
The former Prime Minister has been counting on support from Jubilee party leaders as well as President Uhuru Kenyatta who seemingly appears to prefer him as his successor in 2022.
Deputy President William Ruto has also made inroads in the Mt Kenya region as Raila’s main challenger in the 2022 presidential race.
Kiraitu Murungi’s decision to rally the Ameru vote behind Raila’s presidency will come as a shocker to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi who hails from the region and has declared his interest for the top seat in 2022.
Just recently, the governor led leaders from Mt Kenya East which comprises the Ameru, Mbeere, and Aembu communities in endorsing Muturi for the presidency.
Kiraitu describing Muturi as a symbol of unity in the entire Mt Kenya region and asked leaders from the populous region to back his ambition for the top seat.
On the same day, Kiraitu was endorsing Raila, Justin Muturi announced the formation of a new coalition alongside Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua and former UNCTAD secretary general Mukhisa Kituyi.
