The absence of some of President Uhuru allies at an event graced by Raila in Mt Kenya recently has raised eyebrows in the political circles..
Despite all the anti-Ruto legislators being invited to the Skiza Thanksgiving Ceremony on July 27, only a handful of Mt. Kenya leaders attended the event.
The only Murang’a MPs who attended the event hosted by Raila Odinga in Mt. Kenya were MP Joseph Nduati (Gatanga) and his Kigumo counterpart Ruth Mwaniki.
On the other hand Kangema MP Muturi Kigano, Mary Wamaua (Maragua) and Sabina Chege (county Representative) kept away from the event.
However, Sabina Chege defended her absence, saying she was attending a burial on the same day.
“I could not make it to the function because I had other engagements. I attended the burial of four women who died in a road accident,” she told the Star newspaper.
Other than legislators from Murang’a, it has also been established that those from neighbouring counties had been invited, but kept away from the event of Raila in Mt Kenya.
These include Amos Kimunya(Kipiriri), MP Peter Mwathi(Limuru), Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa) and Ngunjiri Wambug(Nyeri Town).
These confidants of President Uhuru avoided the function despite being invited.
With the absence of the legislators, Raila Odinga was surrounded by his ODM team and governors Mwangi wa Iria(Murang’a), Nderitu Muriithi (Laikipia), Ann Waiguru (Kirinyaga), and James Nyoro (Kiambu).
The suspicious absence of these leaders in the event may stall Uhuru’s men plan to brand Raila Odinga as a desirable candidate for the 2022 Presidential election.
After the Tuesday function, Uhuru allies led by Maina Kamanda agreed on coming up with strategies to popularize Raila in Mt Kenya.
To achieve this, they are counting on local leaders to move around the region and neutralize the DP Ruto effect.
Therefore, Kamanda’s plans might not bear fruits without the support of these local leaders.