After endorsing Jubilee Party candidate McDonald Mariga in the concluded Kibra by-election, President Uhuru Kenyatta for the first time spoke about the mini-poll.
Uhuru, who never stepped his feet in Kibra or issued any written or verbal statement in support of Mariga, broke his silence over the by-election during a meeting with a host of Mt Kenya Leaders at Sagana State Lodge in Meru County.
Contrary to a number of speculations that mounted over his silence in the mini poll, President Uhuru expressed satisfaction with how the election was conducted.
He gave a lot of talking points about the by-election and expressed optimism that the country is destined for greater things.
According to State House blogger Dennis Itumbi, this is what the Uhuru said about the Kibra by-election.:
“There are things I saw in December 2017 and January 2019 that I saw.
“There are places in Nairobi people could not have visited because you would have been beaten or killed.
“Now I saw a campaign being done in Kibra. We also had a candidate..right?I had never seen a campaign in Kibra in my lifetime. Because no-one could get in.
“But throughout the campaign, people held meetings close to each other but no-one was fighting the other.
“Now, we have a problem because a few leaders were hit with stones. But it is not my role to defend leaders. Others will do that.
“But no duka was burnt, or kiosk vandalized and residents walked home on their feet and slept well till morning.
“Even though our candidate did not win believe Kenyans and especially people from Mt.Kenya won.
“If we can have an election in Kibra and no-one lost property, we won.
“We should learn that.
“I work with a certain woman in Kibra who lost things in 2007, in 2013 she escaped. In 2017, she got attacked twice in August and in December.
“I had very keen interest after the by-elections and I called her and her only regret is that campaigns had come to end and there were no more handouts.
“You would have extended the campaign by two weeks. That is the conversation that made me believe that we are being united as a country.
“Unity with other leaders does not mean we are kicking others out. Only God knows what will happen in the future.”
President Uhuru’s silence in the Kibra by-election attracted criticism from a section of Jubilee supporters who accused him of neglecting his candidate.
Mariga lost to MP-elect Bernard Okoth who was an ODM candidate.
The MP-elect was being labelled a handshake candidate leading to the feeling of betrayal from Jubilee supporters.