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The mention of former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s name during the Limuru 3 Conference has opened a new battlefront between him and allies of President William Ruto.

Allies of President Ruto who included National Assembly’s Leader of the Majority Kimani Ichungwa and his counterpart in the senate Aron Cheruiyot and Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri claimed Uhuru bankrolled the meeting to undermine President Ruto and national cohesion.

Kiunjuri who was the chief guest at a funds drive in aid of women groups in Malava, Kakamega County, urged leaders in Mt Kenya region to reject any form of tribal mobilisation, warning that it could alienate them from the rest of the country and hurt them both socially and economically.

He urged Kenyans to ignore resolutions from the Limuru 3 Conference terming the organisers as a bunch of disgruntled political rejects in the  Mt. Kenya region.

“In the mountain, we are over 100 elected MPs, governors, senators and women MPs. Did you see anyone of us in that meeting. What you hear reverberating is just 13 per cent of dissent voices that voted for Raila Odinga in 2022. And that kind of opposition is normal. We as elected leaders from Mt Kenya are behind President William Ruto,” Kiunjuru declared.

Funding conference

He accused Uhuru of funding the Limuru 3 to further politics of revenge against DP Ruto.  He also accused DP Rigathi Gachagua of being the weak link in the Kenya Kwanza administration. 

“So we are asking those leaders who lost the elections and those who retired, to settle at home peacefully. They should learn the virtue of respect and allow elected leaders to lead,” Kiunjuri observed. And turning to Gachagua, he challenged the DP to shape or ship out of government . 

He said: “And you are in government elected on a Kenya Kwanza ticket na uko na nia nyingine…ngojea, kwa sababu hatuwezi kuwa na ndume wawili kwa zizi moja. Lazima tuheshimu  rais aliyekalia kiti “ (Since you are in government after being elected on a Kenya Kwanza ticket, you must respect the sitting president because there can only be one leader at a time).

He went on to state: “You cannot have one foot in government and another out there . You cannot start campaigns for 2032 before we get to 2027.” Kiunjuri’s remarks echoed speeches from a dozen MPs and senators at the funds drive.

In attendance

They included  host MP MPs Malulu Injendi, Bernard Shinali (IIkolomani), Fred Ilana (Shinyalu) John Waluke Sirisya), Mucira (Ol jolrok), Beatrice Adagala (Vihiga) Caroli Omondi (Suba South, ODM), Elisha Ochieng (Gem), Christopher Aseka (Khwisero), Onesmus Ngogoyo (Kajiado Central), Mohammed Ali.

Others were Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Elijah Memusi, Wahome Wamatinga (Nyeri), senator Tom Ojienda (Kisumu, ODM) Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa.

Omondi said Limuru 3 undermined the spirit of Limuru 1,  which agitated for  unity in diversity.

”Limuru 1 resulted in merger and birth of Kanu but Limuru 3 is mobilising Kenyans along  tribal lines,” Omondi stated.

Muchira however insisted Mt Kenya region does not speak through “political brokers.

 “The two main organisers of Limuru 3 are not  elected leaders in the region. As a running mate to Raila Odinga, Martha Karua failed to even garner 20 votes for Baba in her polling station. The other one (Jeremiah Kioni) cheated your son to run for presidency in 2013 but as a running mate, he did not vote for him,” Muchira said.

Ichungwa said the Limuru meeting does not reflect the political will of the Mt. Kenya people, terming the organisers as hell bent  to use the masses for selfish gains.

 “Mobilisation and balkanisation along tribal lines is both retrogressive and backward. No tribe is superior to the  others,” Ichung’wa stated.

Cheruiyot said tribal declarations are a threat to national cohesion, adding that he believes in a united  Kenya.  They were speaking at Tombo grounds in Malava, Kakamega County during a finds drive for women groups.

Kakamega deputy governor Ayub  Savula who was also present challenged Uhuru to stop funding rebels  against the government and should accept that  the country has moved on with Ruto as president. 

He warned that Uhuru’s influence and active role in Mt. Kenya politics was a threat to national security .

Elsewhere, Moiben MP Phylis Bartoo has told off proponents of one man one shilling formula among them Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua saying that plans were out to cause disunity and disharmony among Kenyans. Bartoo faulted those championing for the implementation of the formula noting that their intention was to derail President William Ruto’s implementation of flagship projects across the country.