NYERI, Kenya Feb 23 – President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to endorse ODM leader Raila Odinga at the Sagana meeting, as his successor when he retires in August when he will have completed his second and final term as Head of State
The president has called a key meeting of Central Kenya leaders where he will outline his vision and achievements in the past 10 years to the vote-rich region.
“Just like he told the youth leaders at State House two weeks ago, we expect the same message,” a senior Jubilee official said, “the meeting is all about his vision and direction the region should take and he has already made it clear that we need to support Baba (Raila).”
Another leader from the region said, “we are prepared to host the president and we are loyal to the core, we are ready to support his choice for a successor.”
The meeting will be held at the Sagana State Lodge.
Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu indicated that it is meant to give the region political direction and ensure that more than six million votes are in “safe hands.”
“For the avoidance of doubts tomorrow’s (Wednesday’s) meeting is simply a political one. The president has invited not just jubilee leaders but those he feels he can work together and ensure that Mt Kenya residents are in safe hands once he exit from power,” said Wambugu.
Wambugu said that the President will also ensure that his legacy projects are carried on and that is the reason why he wants to pass on the leadership button to safer hands.
“Those who do not want the president to give political direction are misguided they fell way before he could champion our course, their fear is misguided and will not dissuade us we will march on and determine our future,” he stated.
The much-touted Sagana-3 meeting will bring together grassroots political leaders drawn from the politically coveted Mount Kenya region with a view of shaping the political direction in the forthcoming polls.
From the two other previous meetings, participants came out painting different pictures depending on each interpretation of the message delivered.
”The President wakes up to think of this nation on daily basis and how development and unity should be fostered. And now someone is telling him that he should not think of what goes on after he has left. What if someone takes after him to destroy what he has done and even more?” he posed.
Already, Deputy President William Ruto has made considerable political inroads in the region as he seeks to consolidate support for his Presidential bid.
This has not gone down well with the President who has fallen out with him.
Nominated MP Maina Kamanda says that this is the golden moment for him to guide the region and the nation towards a sober transition from his reign.
“We have a historic meeting tomorrow, we will affirm that our Kingpin is President Uhuru Kenyatta, not some other character who has been chest-thumping that he holds sway in our region. I want to confirm here that it is during tomorrow’s Sagana-3 meeting that our kingpin will give us the way forward,” Kamanda stated.
He pointed out that Sagana-1 and Sagana-2 were only meant to listen to the people in the region and address their concerns related to development, pointing out that massive projects have been undertaken to completion and others are still in various stages.
