NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 5 – Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader, Musalia Mudavadi has called out a section of politicians claiming that Huduma Namba cards will be used to vote in the 2022 General Election, noting that this may lead to voter apathy.
Musalia termed this as propaganda and lies meant to suppress voter turn-out since a good number of the population did not register while others are yet to receive the cards.
“I have done several tours in different parts of the country and people are starting to buy the lies, it is the high time for Kenyans of good will, the church, media and Non-Governmental Organizations to undo the damage,” he said, Huduma Namba will not be used to vote.”
He spoke on Sunday at the St Cecilia Catholic Church in Milangine area of Nyandarua County Sunday where he was accompanied by State House Controller Kinuthia Mbugua and Governor Francis Kimemia, Musalia.
“Parliament has not changed Election Laws which clearly states that voter registration is done by the IEBC and not any other body,” said the presidential aspirant.
This was Mudavadi’s second charm offensive visit to Nyandarua, as presidential aspirants’ scramble for the vote-rich Mt Kenya region which appear to be the busiest politically, as the country prepares for next year’s General Election when President Uhuru Kenyatta’s second and final term comes to and end.
Key candidates keen to succeed him have lately intensified campaigns strategies and meetings in the region to outsmart each other in what has left the mountain that is Kenyatta’s backyard largely divided.
A week after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who is also the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader pitched camp in the region accompanied by some local legislators loyal to the president, Deputy President William Ruto has trained his guns there, starting with a meeting of a section of local leaders.
The meeting started on Friday night, culminating to a declaration read out on Saturday where those allied to the DP assured him of their support in the August 2022 presidential election.
“We as leaders from this region want to say that after through deliberations, we have come to the conclusion that a single party with national outlook is the best for this nation,” nominated MP Cecily Mbarire who read the resolutions said.
Ruto was expected in Kieni in Nyeri County on Sunday to join the leaders who had been meeting since Friday night.
The region has lately seen new realignments as leaders position themselves ahead of the election. Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has teamed up with Mwangi Kiunjuri and Martha Karua who all have parties they say will help champion the interests of the region.
While Kuria was supportive of Ruto, he maintains he is uncomfortable with the DP’s demand that leaders ready to work with UDA must first ditch their parties. Kuria, Kiunjuri and Karua did not attend the Saturday caucus.
And ahead of Ruto’s Sunday visit to Mt Kenya, youths opposed to the visit barricaded roads raising tension that led to the deployment of heavy security personnel.
The caucus which met on Saturday dismissed regional outfits formed by a section of leaders in the region saying they seek to promote sectarian interests through Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The leaders opined that a single party where all Kenyans are involved will ensure a progressive economic blueprint is well articulated for the prosperity of the nation.
“We as leaders are opposed to ethnic political parties that will divide the nation. It will be prudent if we come together under one umbrella as a nation,” said Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua.
The leaders cited UDA as the best suited party for the region due to its national outlook.
They however complained of what they described as ‘weaponization’ of government agencies including the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to settle political scores.
Speaking in a separate forum however, Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina urged Mt Kenya leaders to sit down and deliberate on the region’s political future.
“As a respected politician in this region, I want to urge our leaders to come together and talk on the future rather than joining alliances,” said Maina.
He urged leaders to put aside their differences and chat a path with the region’s interest at heart.
