Raila’s Murang’a tour sparks row

• Some MPs see the visit as designed to undermine Uhuru Kenyatta’s support

A war of words has erupted between central Kenya MPs over the planned visit to the greater Murang’a district by Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

A section of MPs from the region view the February 28 visit as an attempt by Mr Odinga to undermine Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s support in the region.

This is more so in the light of a recent opinion poll which showed that Mr Odinga is ahead of Mr Kenyatta in Central Province.

Two MPs allied to Mr Kenyatta on Monday questioned why the Prime Minister’s office was not involving them in arranging the visit if Mr Odinga did not have ulterior motives for touring the area.

Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau, in whose constituency the function will be held, accused an MP from a neighbouring constituency of working with “political brokers” to bring the PM to the area.

But on Monday, 26 councillors organising the visit dismissed the MP’s opposition after meeting Mr Odinga in Nairobi to set the date.

Speaking to the Nation on Monday, Mr Kamau said he was not involved in the preparations for the visit and had only learnt about it from the press.

Out of the seven MPs in the greater Murang’a district, it is only Mr Kamau who is allied to Mr Kenyatta in the race for the Kibaki succession in 2012.

The other MPs from the region, which comprises Kangema, Kiharu, Mathioya, Kandara, Kigumo, Maragwa and Gatanga constituencies, are perceived to be opposed to Mr Kenyatta’s bid, save for Environment Minister John Michuki who is said to be disinterested in the succession battles.

Speaking separately, Kandara MP Elias Mbau welcomed the planned visit by the PM and vowed to attend it.

“My challenge to those other leaders who think the Prime Minister should not visit is for them to tell us how many times they have visited the same region to address the issues the PM is coming to address,” he said.

He questioned why the PM’s planned tour was causing jitters among some MPs, yet two ministers allied to Mr Odinga’s ODM had toured the region in the recent past without attracting any opposition.

Political tourism

“Those doubting the PM should know that this is the same person who visited Mathira when our people were killing each other.

“He is the guy who brought a solution when teachers threatened to go on strike,’’ he said.

But Kamukunji’s Simon Mbugua, an ally of Mr Kenyatta, accused the PM of engaging in “political tourism’’.

“Let him desist from touring people’s constituencies without involving the local leadership,’’ he said.