Wrangles In Uhuru's Team Threaten His Re-election Campaign

Rivalries among Jubilee leaders from Central Kenya appear to be escalating and might do some damage to President Uhuru Kenyatta's campaign if the trend continues.

A meeting held at Sagana State Lodge a week ago meant to strategize on Jubilee campaigns in the larger Central region appears to have done little to bring together leaders from opposing camps.

In Meru, Peter Munya has announced that he will not be part of the Jubilee Campaign machinery led by Governor Kiraitu Murungi, opting to run parallel campaigns instead.

Speaking at a local radio station, Mr. Munya stated: “If there is a big meeting called by the president I can participate. But I can’t see myself attending a rally organised by Kiraitu because we have unfinished business with my petition against him.”

The Party of National Unity(PNU) leader announced that the party's committee has met to chart the way forward in planning campaigns at the grassroots level.

In Kiambu County, Governor Ferdinand Waititu has insinuated that there are plans by ex-Governor William Kabogo to tarnish his image and standing in Uhuru's campaign.

He stated: “Even though I don’t want to be involved in a political spat with some forces who lost, I am aware of their scheme to portray me in a bad light and to insinuate that I am reluctant to take charge of the campaign.”

Speaking on a vernacular TV station on Monday, Mr Waititu noted that he had organized the Jubilee Rally in Nairobi's Uhuru Park and many other meetings within Kiambu.

In Nyeri, there is a split between Governor Wahome Gakuru and Mathira Member of Parliament(MP) Rigathi Gachagua. Their differences were in the public domain following a public spat before the Sagana State Lodge meeting, but it was thought that a truce had been brokered between them at the meeting.

However, a day after the meeting, Mr Gachagua initiated his own campaigns, stating: “We had a meeting and agreed to form campaign teams, but I will not sit down and wait, I have my own infrastructure and have already activated my campaign machinery to kick-start campaigns.”

A united front is considered necessary to ensure maximum turn-out in the region that is largely a Jubilee stronghold.