Matiang’i also capable of succeeding Uhuru, Arama says

The Kenyan presidency should not be a preserve of the dominant communities in the country, Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama has said.

Commenting on the ongoing debate on President Uhuru Kenyatta’s succession, the MP said the Kisii community is also ripe to lead this country.

“We have the likes of Dr Fred Matiang’i who has shown that he has qualities to be the next President of Kenya and I will push my community to have him on the ballot because we must show the other communities that this seat is not their preserve,” said Mr Arama.

He was speaking on Monday outside his National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) office where he issued more than Sh4.1million bursary cheques to more than 200 needy students from his constituency.

DOMINANT COMMUNITIES

Mr Arama said that the notion by the three dominant communities that they are the only ones who can lead this country should stop.

“These communities are talking passionately about the 2022 presidential race as if the other communities including the Kisii, which has produced the most hardworking Cabinet Secretary, Dr Fred Matiang’i, have no capacity to produce a presidential candidate,” said Mr Arama.

He said that this “retrogressive and selfish thinking” has trickled down to cosmopolitan counties such as Nakuru.

“If today I declare my interest to vie for the Nakuru governor’s seat, there will be a lot of noise and I will be branded an outsider simply because I am Kisii and I don’t come from the three big communities,” said Mr Arama.

He added, “Even getting a deputy governor’s seat in Nakuru County if you’re not a Kalenjin or Kikuyu is an uphill task even if your development record is as good as mine.”

CHANGE CONSTITUTION

He lamented that some communities are pushing for a change of the Constitution to create a position for Mr Kenyatta upon his retirement even though he has not shown interest.

Mr Arama said that while Deputy President William Ruto is the most likely person to succeed Mr Kenyatta, ultimately it is Kenyans who will decide who their next president.

“If Kenyans elect Dr Ruto, well and good, and if they reject him there is nothing wrong with that. That is democracy,” said Mr Arama.