Why Mt Kenya Politicians Will Not Have Raila's Photo on Posters - Ngunjiri Wambugu

A collage image of Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu (LEFT) and a campaign poster of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Narc Kenya Leader Martha Karua (LEFT).
A collage image of Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu (LEFT) and a campaign poster of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Narc Kenya Leader Martha Karua (RIGHT).
File

Nyeri Town Member of Parliament, Ngunjiri Wambugu, now says that the absence of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's images on their campaign posters is a political strategy that aspirants in the larger Mount Kenya region are employing.

Speaking at a presser on Thursday, June 9, the ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta explained that aspirants were trying to distinguish themselves from the Azimio presidential candidate by selling their individual agenda.

He stated that the aspirants did not want to be elected because of Raila but rather because of their own qualifications and appeal to the electorate.

Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga (left) and his running mate, Martha Karua (right) at a photoshoot in May 2022
Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga (left) and his running mate, Martha Karua (right) at a photo shoot in May 2022
Raila Odinga

"One of the things we want to try and challenge is that we want people to be elected based on their own personal standing so that we do not get confused. We are trying to generate that aspect of personal responsibility. 

"We do not want to confuse voters by hiding behind certain people," he stated.

Further, Wambugu stated that having a party leader on a poster was not significant enough to portray loyalty to the party, giving the example of some Jubilee leaders post the 2017 elections.

However, he insisted that they were still popularising Raila's State House bid, adding that their strategy was working to their advantage.

“We are selling our presidential candidate but this time, compared to 2017, there is a distinction. This is because in 2017 there were people who got elected because of President Uhuru Kenyatta but immediately they got into office, they started condemning him."

The statement by Wambugu come after concerns were raised over the failure by Mount Kenya aspirants to include the former Premier's images on their posters at a meeting with the ODM boss on May 4.

During the meeting, Raila urged the aspirants to be brave and put his images and slogans on the posters, promising financial backing to those candidates.

"Those who have shown commitment will get lots of ammo [finance] from me. Do not have any doubts about that. 

"I have since directed that we get ward, constituency, and county campaign committees and sync them with the presidential campaign secretariat that has former Jubilee Party Secretary General, Raphael Tuju, as the Executive Director," he stated.

The failure to include Raila on the posters has seen Kenya Kwanza leaders accuse Azimio leaders of duping the ODM boss even as they stated that the move was a reflection of Raila's popularity in the region.

Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua during the launch of their manifesto on June 6, 2022.
Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua during the launch of their manifesto on June 6, 2022.
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