Jubilee MPs in Mt Kenya Region Criticise Involvement of Wealthy Businessmen in Local Politics

There is trouble brewing in the Jubilee party, pitting a group of wealthy friends and supporters of President Uhuru Kenyatta, against the elected leaders in the Mt Kenya region.

Kenyatta's wealthy supporters, mainly businessmen and professionals, have come together under the Mt Kenya Foundation (MKF) with the aim of ensuring the president gets a second term.

However, their activities have not been well received by elected leaders in the Mt Kenya region, who fear that the tycoons may use their wealth to influence grassroots politics.

In Nyeri, for example, MKF donated millions of shillings for voter mobilisation drive after the county was identified as lagging behind in the important drive.

The businessmen's gesture was later criticised by local MPs.

β€œIn every election, there are people who will be interested in who is running and who will be elected, that is normal. What we should be worried about are tycoons who do not have good intentions,” Kieni MP, Kanini Kega stated.

Othaya MP Mary Wambui, and her Mathira counterpart Peter Weru have also dismissed the Mt Kenya tycoons.

β€œI skipped the meeting because I did not think they could teach me - a politician - anything about voter mobilisation,” Weru stated after he declined to attend a voter mobilisation meeting in Nyeri town.