Nakuru Governor, Lee Kinyanjui, has led Mt Kenya governors in a meeting that signalled the exit of the county bosses from the Jubilee Party.
In the meeting held on Saturday, December 4, the governors, Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru), Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua), James Nyoro (Kiambu) and Nderitu Mureithi (Laikipia) stated they were in talks and would soon announce a joint coalition ahead of the 2022 General Election.
During the meeting, the four Governors from the ruling Jubilee Party endorsed talks co-led by the Party of National Unity (PNU) and the Ubuntu Peoples Forum (UPF) to form an alliance for 2022.
In the statement, the governors mentioned they are proactively engaged in building broader consensus that will result in a formidable political vehicle for 2022.
"As leaders with a keen interest in the future of our nation, we are hosting varied conversations with other leaders and political parties for the good of all of us.
"In particular, The Party of National Unity ( PNU ) and Ubuntu Peoples Forum ( UPF) are in early conversations to build on their respective political advantage for the purpose of making a positive change in our country. We will also actively engage like-minded political actors, within and beyond, for the purpose of setting a formidable force.
"The future is greater when we are together. We shall be issuing a comprehensive statement on the progress in due course," the statement read.
This signalled that the four governors elected on a Jubilee Party ticket are looking to leave the party that has been marred with mass exits as the country nears the general election.
Governor Kinyanjui has been vocal in supporting ODM leader, Raila Odinga, in his presidential bid. The Nakuru county boss stated that he will support Raila due to the backing he has accorded President Uhuru Kenyatta during his second term in office.
“Personally, I have voted five to six times. All those years, I have never voted for Raila, but in the coming year, I see that changing. I sat down and realized that when we were in trouble, you (Raila) are the only person who came to our rescue.
“We say that undungu si kufanana, undugu ni kufaana (brotherhood is not being alike, brotherhood is being there for each other). When we needed you, you were there. You kept the country going, the bills in Parliament were being passed because of you,” Kinyanjui stated.
Speaking during an interview at a local TV station on Tuesday, September 28, the day Raila met Mt Kenya Foundation leaders, Kinyanjui made it clear that the mountain region will only work with Raila if he honours the demands tabled.
At the top of the demands listed by the Mt Kenya leaders is that the ODM leader picks his running mate from the region. Governor Kinyanjui insisted that the position of the Deputy President is an irreducible minimum.
