Deputy President William Ruto has told a some of the Mt Kenya leaders that President Uhuru Kenyatta will lead his 2022 campaigns.
This was to sought the ongoing rumours that DP is in bad terms President Uhuru Kenyatta.
According to DP Ruto, “When campaigns start, the President will personally pick the microphone and traverse the country campaigning for me. On the election date, I am also assured of his vote.”
Two MCAs who attended the talks on Saturday night, quelled fears that DP Ruto’s relationship with the President was falling apart and were divisions in Jubilee Party.
The two declined to be named over fears of reprisal from the party. The MCAs received an invitation to the meeting from the Deputy Speaker Samuel Kariuki.
The meeting lasted for three-hours and was held together with Nyeri leaders at Fairmont Hotel in Nanyuki, According to Mr Ruto, President Kenyatta supports his ambition to lead the country in 2022 and the handshake between the Head of State and opposition leader Raila Odinga has not changed their political vision.
Those in attendance included Governor Mutahi Kahiga, five MPs and 41 ward representatives. Nyeri MP Ngunjiri Wambugu snubbed the meeting on grounds that he did not receive an invitation.
Lawmakers present included Kanini Kega (Kieni), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Gichuki Mugambi (Othaya), Gichuhi Mwangi (Tetu) and Anthony Kiai (Mukurwei-ni).
Mr Gachagua admitted that he was in charge of sending out invitations to his fellow MPs, but refuted claims that the DP’s agenda was political.
The Mathira MP insisted that the DP discussed development projects in the county including the completion of the Karatina open air market that has been under construction since 2010.
But according to Mr Wambugu, the meeting was meant to buy out leaders and discuss the Nyeri Town MP’s defiant behaviour. “The meeting was not important given that I was not invited. Even if had received an invitation. I would not have attended,” he said.
This is the second time the controversial lawmaker has skipped a meeting called by the DP. Mr Wambugu has been denounced by a section of MPs over his remarks that Mr Ruto is not guaranteed Mt Kenya votes in the 2022 elections.
“I have nothing personal against the DP. I only have a problem with him because it seems he does not support the President’s main agenda,” he claimed.
But in the meeting with leaders in Nanyuki, Mr Ruto downplayed claims he was not concerned about President Kenyatta’s legacy insisting that the Big Four Agenda was at the top of his priority.
Mr Wambugu also differed with the DP and other leaders, who have denied there are divisions in the party. The Nyeri Town MP cited opposition against the Building Bridges Initiative and the fight against corruption.
During two separate fund raising ceremonies in Mathira on Thursday, leaders said the disunity and fighting reported in Jubilee were a creation of the media.
Mr Ruto, who has previously downplayed reports that some Jubilee politicians are opposed to his ambition, said the leaders are targeting him through propaganda.
While speaking at Githunguri, Kiambu County some time in June said, “There is an attempt to undermine the track record of jubilee. Facts and reality are stubborn. You cannot write-off the Jubilee government’s track record because it is real.”
He further added saying, “Let them continue peddling propaganda but we will meet with them on the judgement day. The electorate will decide between performers and propagandists.”
Mr Ruto said he is aware of what is happening as far as the political intrigues are concerned, adding that there are groups that have perfected the art of peddling lies through the media “with a view to dividing Kenyans”.
Mr Ruto has previously refrained from commenting on reports of Jubilee leaders opposed to his presidential bid.