Why Uhuru is Not Campaigning For Raila

An image of ODM leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Azimio NDC on March 12, 2022.
ODM leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Azimio NDC on March 12, 2022.
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President Uhuru Kenyatta did not think twice about endorsing Martha Karua as the running mate for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party presidential flagbearer, Raila Odinga.

Karua's entry into the coalition also made Uhuru to reportedly take a step back in campaigning for Raila as he believed she was capable of swinging the Mount Kenya vote in favour of Azimio.

Uhuru had previously promised to campaign for Raila, but his proxies have recently come out to state that he will not be part of the campaign trail. 

Why so? Prior to Karua being declared Raila's running mate, Uhuru was said to be intent on picking a running mate from his party, Jubilee. However, his party did not have a strong contender who would counter Deputy President William Ruto's influence in the mountain region. 

Azimio One Kenya running mate Martha Karua addresses the gathering as DP William Ruto watches  at the National Prayer breakfast on Thursday,May 26, 2022
Azimio One Kenya running mate Martha Karua addresses the gathering at the National Prayer breakfast as DP William Ruto watches on Thursday, May 26, 2022
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Among the names that were fronted for the running mate position included Agriculture CS, Peter Munya, Murang'a Woman Representative, Sabina Chege, and former Gatanga MP, Peter Kenneth. 

The trio was part of Raila's campaign even before he announced his candidature. After Karua was selected as running mate, Munya was assured of retaining the Agricultural docket in Raila's administration while Chege is reportedly poised to land an appointive position.

Karua upon beating Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, to the running mate position, hit the ground running, with recent opinion polls showing that her popularity was on a sharp rise, sending a chilling message to the Kenya Kwanza alliance.

To that effect, Uhuru took a more behind the scene role of financing and coordinating the Azimio campaigns. This has also helped him avoid any smear campaigns that could be targeted to Raila Odinga.

Explaining Uhuru's role in Raila campaigns during an interview on NTV on May 22, Jubilee party vice chairperson, David Murathe, stated that the Head of State would not engage in the campaigns, stating that the selected team was strong enough. 

"The President has done his bit. He has been the chair of the Azimio council. Now that we have a ticket and a running mate it is up to them to go and campaign now. The President has to keep of now. Uhuru has to rise above and become the Head of State," stated Murathe.

One of Karua's primary tasks is to instill the confidence in Mount Kenya, by assuring the residents that an Azimio government would be beneficial to them. She is also supposed to carry with Raila's branding in the region owing to the fact that most Jubilee politicians avoided the ODM's image in their branding over fear of being rejected by voters.

Karua, with the help of Peter Munya, has, however, been all out flying the Raila Odinga brand high and creating an image of a saviour coming to Mount Kenya to liberate the region economically.

From left to right: Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, Murang'a Woman Representative Sabina Chege, NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua and Azimio's flagbearer Raila Odinga during the unveiling of the party's running mate at KICC on Monday, May 16.
From left to right: Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, Murang'a Woman Representative Sabina Chege, NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua and Azimio's flagbearer Raila Odinga during the unveiling of the party's running mate at KICC on Monday, May 16.
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Raila Odinga

Additionally, she has insisted that the regions' interests will be catered for in a Raila administration with her as the second in command.

Experts have also concurred that the iron lady was the missing part to complete the Raila Odinga jigsaw puzzle in Mount Kenya.

Months before Karua joined Azimio, Dr Masibo Lumala, a political analyst, specialist and consultant in Gender, Communication and Development, told Kenyans.co.ke that Karua was poised to be the Deputy President in either camps.  

“She has served the people for long in various capacities. What I know is that Martha is a very strong lady. She is positioning herself strategically to be chosen as a deputy by all presidential candidates. They (presidential candidates) would want to have someone who can speak, and Martha can rise to the occasion. She is a good campaigner, a good mobilizer and a force to reckon with,” stated Masibo.

Political analyst, Herman Manyora, on Friday, May 27, described Karua as the magic that happened to Azimio following her historic unveiling at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

The University of Nairobi don asserted that Karua's calm nature could give Azimio an upper hand in the Mt Kenya region as the Kenya Kwanza faction grapple with the difficulties that come with selling a William Ruto - Rigathi Gachagua ticket.

"Martha Karua is a sensation in the country. She has caused a ‘fever’ and brought excitement to the nation. I was in the village when the announcement was made and I found the excitement baffling.

"She has made it worse for Ruto because the timing is important. He could look back and ask himself why he did not pick a lady. The people of Mt Kenya are now looking at Karua and Gachagua to see who the better choice will be," he told KTN News.

Karua has not shied away from taking on rowdy youths who have interrupted her rallies when she visited regions predominantly Kenya Kwanza strongholds.

At one point, she dared Kenya Kwanza to face off with her rather than fund the youth to disrupt her rallies, a few days after the rival camp lodged attacks against her. 

Analysts opine that Karua being named a running mate caught Kenya Kwanza off-guard, thus forcing the DP Ruto faction to result to name-calling. The cracks within Kenya Kwanza have also vividly played out in public, with a section of politicians rejecting Gachagua, and this has been a boon for Azimio.

Others urged the incumbent Mathira MP to hire communication experts to advise him on media appearances, arguing that Karua was doing better than him and he (Gachagua) would cost Ruto the presidency

Gachagua was in the spotlight for asking Ruto to cook meals for Nyeri residents whenever he tours the county as President in the event he assumes power. He was also castigated for suggesting that Ruto's administration should sell blue-chip companies and use the funds to finance small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). 

However, Gachagua defended himself asking his critics within the Kenya Kwanza alliance to support him.

"I have served the people of Mathira as their MP and no one has ever complained. The issue with other politicians can only be described as sibling rivalry. I am not an abrasive person but I am firm and actually a good listener," the lawmaker defended his personality in an interview on Inooro FM

Deputy President William Ruto and Mathira Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua in Nyeri on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
Deputy President William Ruto (right) and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua (left) in Nyeri on Saturday, May 21, 2022.
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