UPDATE Thursday, March 17: State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena has denied reports that President Uhuru Kenyatta convened a meeting with Mt Kenya leaders.
She expressed that the President was shocked by the reports adding that they were false and misleading.
"His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta's attention has been drawn to misleading information circulating online on a purported meeting with Central Kenya elected leaders this week.
'The President did not convene nor postpone any such meeting. Therefore, the information is false and misleading," read the statement in part.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has canceled a consultative meeting with Mt Kenya leaders that was scheduled for Friday, March 18, at State House, Nairobi.
Reports indicate that the meeting will be held at a later date. However, the Head of State and his team did not give the reasons for the cancellation.
It was only stated that the cancellation was informed by consultations that had been done between the Head of State and other leaders.
"After wide consultations, I have deferred the meeting that was scheduled for Friday, March 18, at Statehouse Nairobi... to a later date, which will be communicated to you, in due course," read the text message to the Mt Kenya leaders.
The meeting was to be attended by Members of Parliament, Senators, and Governors from the vote-rich region, one week after he endorsed Raila Odinga as his preferred successor.
Speaking on Citizen TV morning show, Kiambu Senator, Kimani Wamatangi, confirmed receiving a text message inviting him to the meeting. He explained that the agenda of the meeting was still unknown to them.
"The text for purposes of clarity is very clearly worded. It invites elected leaders from the Mount Kenya region, from Senators to governors to members of the county assembly, those are the invitees," he stated.
Upon receiving the invitation to the meeting, various leaders also aired their views regarding the meeting even as some stated that they would not attend the State House meeting.
On his part, Gatundu South legislator Moses Kuria asked the President to leave them alone after his recent endorsement of Raila.
"Mt Kenya leaders have been waiting for a proper sit down for four years. To call them 143 days before the election and when you have already declared yourself the campaign manager for Kitendawili is contemptuous. With the utmost respect and deep regret, just let us be," he stated.
The president has of recent weeks been on the receiving end of criticism from Central Kenya leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto over what they termed as betrayal.
With less than five months to the August 9 polls, Uhuru has also been on a charm offensive to solidify his Mt Kenya political base and held a consultative meeting with leaders from the region at Sagana lodge, Nyeri County in February.
At the meeting, he defended his legacy stating that he was able to carry out several development projects in the region after his handshake with Raila in March 2018. He also asked the region to support Raila's presidential bid explaining that he was better placed to succeed him.
"What an old man can see sitting a small boy will not see standing on top of a tree. Let's hold the old man's (Raila) hand and if the other young man (Ruto) also reforms at some point in the future, I have not stopped anyone from supporting him," he stated then
