Kenneth stakes out for supremacy battle in Central region

The battle for political supremacy pitting Uhuru Kenyatta against Peter Kenneth for control of Murang’a County politics is shaping up ahead of the 2012 General Election.

Both Mr Kenyatta and Mr Kenneth have declared they will seek the presidency with the former expected to launch his bid soon.
Mr Kenneth, an assistant minister for Planning, indicated he would be in the race when he declared recently that he would not seek to be an MP, a governor or a senator but would vie for a bigger seat.

“I will not vie for MP, nor will I run for governor or senator. I will be going for a bigger seat,” he said recently in Murang’a.
He has not said when or where he will launch his official bid officially nor for which party.

But he has made clear that he will not be a running mate of any of the other candidates, dashing rumours that he could be prepared to team up with Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The Prime Minister has visited the area twice in as many months, an indication that Murang’a is considered a crucial voting bloc by the candidates.

The PM has been making repeat forays into areas previously thought of as PNU strongholds with a view to entrenching his national appeal.

But Mr Kenneth’s declaration will make it trickier in the county since he comes from Gatanga constituency in Murang’a County.

An announcement by Juja MP William Kabogo, a close ally of the Finance minister, that Mr Kenyatta would launch his presidential campaign in Mr Kenneth’s backyard in Gatanga took the battle a notch higher.

Mr Kenyatta’s handlers have, however, denied the claim after MPs from the county allied to Mr Kenneth expressed reservations, saying the claim was an unnecessary provocation by the Kenyatta camp.
“A presidential campaign launch is not something small, and any serious candidate cannot launch his just anywhere.

The Deputy Prime Minister will launch his bid in Nairobi, and it will be a grand affair,” said a source, who declined to be named to protect his relationship with Mr Kenyatta.

When asked to comment, Mr Kenneth said in a telephone interview that he has no problem and that Mr Kenyatta is welcome to launch the campaign––even in Gatanga.

The recent council elections in Murang’a seem to have reinforced Mr Kenneth’s claim to political ascendancy in the county.

Councillors allied to him swept the board, winning almost all the seats against those allied to the Deputy Prime Minister.
Despite an announcement by Environment minister John Michuki in October 2010 that those who would not support Mr Kenyatta in next year’s polls would be dealt with politically, some MPs from Murang’a have been seen to be amenable to Mr Kenneth’s candidature.

The most visible supporter has been Maragua MP Elias Mbau, who has accompanied the Gatanga MP to various functions in the recent past.

The two, together with Mathioya MP Clement Wambugu, Kiharu MP Muturi Mwangi and Kandara MP Maina Mwangi, were in Murang’a on July 14 and met former Mathioya MP Joseph Kamotho who will be seeking the senate seat in the next elections. The former Kanu secretary-general is a long-time political rival of Mr Michuki, the the Kangema MP.
Only Mr Michuki and Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau, who are seen to gravitate towards Mr Kenyatta, skipped the meeting. Mr Kenneth confirmed the meeting took place but nobody, including Mr Kamotho, was endorsed for any seat.

Contacted for comment, Mr Kamau said he was not invited to the meeting, adding that Mr Kamotho does not require any endorsement to stand for any seat as it is his democratic right to seek office.

Mr Kamotho himself sees no problem with the candidature of Mr Kenneth, saying he has a right like any other candidate to vie.
His views are echoed by Mr Mbau, who has come under attack from Mr Kabogo over his perceived support for Mr Kenneth.

“Ideally if the two work together, they could be a formidable political force. But neither has launched his presidential bid yet, and when they do, we can expect that the issue of where Murang’a MPs’ support lies will become much clearer,” he said.