Fresh details have emerged regarding the cancellation of the much anticipated Ukambani visit by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu had earlier stated that the visit which had been scheduled for May 19-21, was postponed to the month of June to allow for the completion of projects to be commissioned by the President.
However, reports now indicate that political wrangles and infighting among Ukambani leaders may have prompted the postponement of the presidential event.
It is reported that a section of the region's leaders want President Kenyatta to separately meet people of the lower Easter region; Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties. The leaders apparently failed to agree on the agenda of the meeting while some accused their colleagues of hijacking the visit to push for their own agendas.
Makueni Member of Parliament Daniel Maanzo disclosed to People Daily that there were disagreements on various issues including the venue and which completed projects should be given priority.
He added that the region's leaders were disrespecting one another and that there were concerns over a County Commissioner who was secretly receiving Cabinet Secretaries.
“It is true there were comments here and there, the county commissioner has been disrespecting elected leaders as we have noticed that he has even been receiving Cabinet Secretaries without our knowledge, the President should meet all elected leaders before visiting Ukambani to iron out some of the issues,” Mr Maanzo remarked.
However, Mbooni MP Kisoi Munyao dismissed the claims saying that they were working on the projects to be launched by the President. He added that the anxiety that has been building before Kenyatta's visit was normal and the wrangles witnessed were essential to achieving harmony during preparations.
