Uhuru Succession Battle: Peter Kenneth Made Mt Kenya Ambassador

An image of Uhuru and Peter Kenneth
President Uhuru Kenyatta consoles the former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth during the burial of his mother Rahab Wambui at PCEA Kirwara Church on Thursday 25 July 2019.
The Standard

Former Presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth has seemingly made a major step in his quest to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kenneth held a four-hour meeting with Gikuyu elders at a private ceremony in Nyeri County on Friday, September 25. 

The former Gatanga MP was crowned Mt Kenya region Ambassador, a move to that some analysts argue placed him ahead of the rest of the pack seeking to be the region's kingpin

The traditional ceremony has a key significance for political leaders. Held inside Mt Kenya Forest, Kenneth is dressed in traditional regalia and spends time being advised on how to represent the community. 

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Former Presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth addresses the media after meeting Gikuyu elders in Nyeri on Friday, September 26, 2020
Daily Nation

Prayers and rituals are later on conducted at the Kikuyu shrines. This is the latest demonstration yet by the former Gatanga MP that he was ready to fight it out with other Mt Kenya peers ahead of 2022.

However, Kenneth did not voice the importance of the meeting, insisting that he would adhere to Kenyatta's request for leaders to avoid early campaigns. 

"I was invited for the cultural event by a section of the community that deals with prayers and cultural matters. It was not about 2022. 

"The invitation to the meeting was done by the elders. I don't know who they will invite next. I did not come for a political reason," he defended himself. 

The meeting came two days after Kenneth met former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at his Capitol Hill offices in Nairobi. 

Odinga stated that the meeting was all about reflection of the current political status, exchange of ideas and consensus-building to find commonground. 

The two leaders appear crucial to Kenyatta's succession plan, with Odinga pushing for a referendum and enactment of the Building Bridges Initiative. 

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OD leader Raila Odinga (right) with Peter Kenneth (left) at Capitol Hill offices in Nairobi on Wednesday, September 23, 2020
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