Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia has revealed that Mt Kenya politicians were instructed to insult Raila Odinga just to make him lose the presidency to his competitor Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013 and 2017.
Speaking at a Nairobi Hotel when Raila met influential figures under Mount Kenya Foundation (MKF) to discuss the region’s economic empowerment, Kimemia said the vote-rich Mt Kenya region does not have any differences with the former Premier.
“My job was to insult Raila. We called him bad names. I do not even want to repeat here. It is time we go back to the people and tell them it was just politics and we insulted Raila for nothing,” Kimemia said.
Kimemia regretted his earlier actions saying that it is time the region’s leaders go back to their people and tell them the truth about how good the man is.
“It’s time to tell Kenyans that all those negative things we said about Raila Odinga was just out just Politics,” the Nyandarua Governor added.
On Monday, September 27, Kimemia and the other three first-term Governors from the Mt Kenya region announced that they will market the former prime minister in the region to ensure he succeeds President Uhuru Kenyatta who is expected to retire.
“We shall plan and coordinate structured engagement with the region focusing on elected leaders, community leaders, business leaders, farmers’ organizations, the faith organizations, and key opinion leaders and shapers in the region,” they said.
Odinga who is yet to announce his candidature received a boost in his race to State House on Tuesday, September 28, when MKF which brings together a group of wealthy Central Kenya businessmen, who have in the past influenced elections in successive regimes committed to helping him climb Mt Kenya to the peak.
Top Mt Kenya tycoons said it had been tasked by President Uhuru to present a name of a possible candidate to take over from the President when he retires in August next year.
Raila Odinga is among other presidential hopefuls who have been pitching tent in the Mt Kenya region hoping to get a share of the region’s huge voting bloc.
In the 2013 and 2017 General Election, the former Prime Minister had a tough time convincing Mt Kenya region electorates to vote for him but it appears 2022 might be different with the help
Deputy President William Ruto and Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi are the others who have made endless trips to Mt Keny in the hope of winning the 2022 General Election.
