Senator Kihika Ridicules Lee Kinyanjui After He is Heckled at Rally

A file image of Nakuru County Senator Susan Kihika(left) and Nakuru County Governor Lee Kinyanjui(right)
A file image of Nakuru County Senator Susan Kihika(left) and Nakuru County Governor Lee Kinyanjui(right)

Nakuru Governor, Lee Kinyanjui, was heckled by a rowdy crowd during a campaign rally in Nakuru after he declared that he would support the Orange Democratic Movement's Raila Odinga and his Azimio La Umoja in the 2022 presidential election.

Speaking during a rally on Monday, December 6, Kinyanjui declared that he would be defending his gubernatorial seat on a Ubuntu People's Forum(UPF) ticket and that he would be allied to the former Prime Minister - who is seeking to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 9, 2022 polls.

"I have told you that I will be vying on the UPF ticket and that I will be joining the Reggae movement (Raila Odinga's political faction)," he remarked.

Nakuru governor Lee Kinyanjui during a meeting with stakeholders in his county on September 28, 2021.
Nakuru governor Lee Kinyanjui during a meeting with stakeholders in his county on September 28, 2021.
Courtesy Lee Kinyanjui

The statement sparked outrage from the crowd, who jeered at him, interrupting his speech while chanting the United Democratic Alliance(UDA) slogans.

He mirrored DP Ruto's reign with that of former President, Mwai Kibaki, arguing that after one's term is over, it is better to relinquish power and free up the position for another candidate to take charge. Kinyanjui wants the DP to retire with his boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta.

While trying to convince the crowd to support Odinga, Kinyanjui claimed that DP Ruto would not fulfil what the Nakuru residents want in terms of development and it was better for him to go home next year.

A video recording of his speech was shared on various social media eliciting reactions from pro-UDA politicians such as Nakuru Senator, Susan Kihika, who has since declared her quest for the gubernatorial seat.

In her response, Kihika stated that the jeers from the Nakuru residents was a wakeup call to Kinyanjui and that UDA was the party of choice.

Kinyanjui, through his social media account on Monday, December 6, took a jibe at DP Ruto hinting that he does not identify with the real issues affecting the people, pointing out that he undermined the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which the Governor argued was for the betterment of the lives of the wananchi.

"Mt Kenya region has always voted with its head and not its heart, and not on the number of harambees, roadside shows or tokens to individuals," he stated in his subtle attack on Ruto.

Kirinyaga Governor, Anne Mumbi Waiguru, also responded to her Nakuru counterpart stating that the message by DP Ruto resonates with the people and he is the rightful candidate.

Deputy President Willaim Ruto in Mathira, Nyeri County on Saturday, December 4, 2021.
Deputy President Willaim Ruto in Mathira, Nyeri County on Saturday, December 4, 2021.
DPPS