Regional
Uhuru Kenyatta: I chose Martha Karua to protect interests of Mt Kenya region
President Uhuru
Kenyatta chose Martha Karua to
deputise Azimio-One Kenya Coalition presidential candidate Raila
Odinga to safeguard interests of Mount Kenya region, the Head of State
has revealed.
The
President, in an address yesterday to religious leaders drawn from all Mt Kenya
counties, for the first time lifted the lid on the reason for his choice of Mr
Odinga’s running mate that generated so much political heat that at one point
Wiper party leader Kalonzo
Musyoka bolted from the coalition.
President
Kenyatta had in a pact with Mr Odinga retained the right to appoint the Azimio
coalition running mate, on the understanding that he would offer his backing
for the ODM party leader’s presidential candidacy.
"I
settled on Martha Karua not because she is my friend, in fact you all know
Martha and myself hardly agreed on anything there before. She even ran against
me in 2012. But I settled on her because I have full confidence that our
community is safe in her hands,” said the President.
He
added that Ms Karua has the ability to unite Mt Kenya region based on the passion
with which she defends the community whenever it is under political attack.
He
told the over 1,500 clergy that the Narc-Kenya leader emerged favourite over a
crowded field that also included Mr Musyoka and former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth
due to her integrity and principles.
The
President also waded into the events that preceded after the nullification of
his victory by the Supreme Court in 2017, recalling a tense meeting he had with
his deputy William Ruto at State House.
He
confirmed DP Ruto’s revelation in a leaked audio tape that he was ready to give
up his quest for a second term in office stating he could not withstand
bloodshed that was anticipated following an election stalemate.
“Even
if I was slapped because of my decision to resign, I would have asked them to
slap the other side… I did not have space for war. There can be no development
without peace and stability.”
“Presidency
is not more important than human lives. Hizi viti umeona
tumekalia si muhimu sana kushinda maisha za binadamu (These seats we
occupy are not more important than the lives of human beings,” the President
told the clergy. DP Ruto told Kikuyu elders at a meeting on Friday last week at
his Karen residence that he almost slapped the President following indication
that he wanted to give up the presidency and avoid taking part in the repeat
poll that was boycotted by the opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa)
presidential candidate, Mr Odinga.
The
President said he is ready to quit power after the August 9 polls, discounting
claims that he would seek to cling on to a position of influence if the Azimio
coalition won the elections. "I am longing for August 9, I cast my vote
for Raila Odinga and go home. I have served my 10 years and have no interest
extending my time in office even for a day.”
The
position of Mr Odinga’s running mate attracted a number of candidates including
Narc-Kenya leader Charity Ngilu, Murang’a Woman representative Sabina Chege,
Agriculture CS Peter Munya, governors Wycliffe Oparanya, Hassan Joho, Lee
Kinyanjui and Stephen Tarus (National Liberal Party). However, a panel set up
by the coalition settled on Ms Karua.
Mr
Odinga, while unveiling Ms Karua as his running mate in May, described her as a
comrade in the struggle with a reform identity that would add value to the
ticket.
State
House
“The
President had invited us to State House just to seek divine intervention so
that there will be peace during the polls. He also asked us to pray so that God
can give us the right leader who will succeed him," said Akorino
Archbishop Moses Gichangi from Kirinyaga.
The
leaders also prayed for the President and blessed him as he prepares to hand
over power to the one who will succeed him after the August 9 polls.
The
bishop said the President was jovial as he interacted with spiritual leaders
for hours.
“In
2017 everybody knows what happened and we reached a point where the 2007/08
post-election violence was about to repeat itself. I do not speak of things
that I cannot repeat tomorrow or deny later,” said the President in his Kikuyu
mother tongue.
He
recalled post-election protests that had started turning violent. “God is great
because even after they (opposition leaders) swore themselves in, thinking I
would send police officers to deal with them, I did not do that. I said let
them do it, I knew there would be bloodshed and loss of lives,” he revealed.