President right to endorse candidate of his choice, says Kikwete
By Alvin.Mwangi, August 2, 2022Former Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday defended President Uhuru Kenyatta’s support for Raila Odinga in the succession race, saying that he is within his right to back a candidate of his choice.
Kikwete, who spoke in Nairobi where he was unveiled as the East African Community’s chief observer and head of mission in the general elections set for next week, defended Uhuru saying that he was within his democratic right to back anyone he wished to in the polls.
“Is he (Uhuru) not a Kenyan? Then if he is one, he has every democratic right to support anyone who he wishes to support. I also backed the late John Magufuli back at home while I was still the sitting president. Uhuru should be left to support anyone he wishes to support. If you wish to deny him his democratic right, it’s now upon you,” said Kikwete.
His sentiments came in the wake of the escalating public spat between the president and his deputy William Ruto, whom he fell out with in 2018.
President Uhuru appears to have settled on Odinga to succeed him with his numerous campaigns across the country.
Uhuru has in the past week taken advantage of official development project inspection tours in Nairobi, Laikipia and Samburu to drum up support for Raila, saying the 77-year-old opposition leader has the qualities needed to take the country forward.
At the same time, Kikwete urged the government to allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to operate freely without any form of interference or intimidation.
“IEBC should be allowed to perform its duties as stipulated in the constitution. We are urging the government to offer the commission maximum support which it requires,” he said.
Kikwete is leading a 52 member observer mission, which is drawn from key governance and independent institutions of the Partner States and civil society organisations.
The mission will be in the country from August 1 to observe the polls and departs on August 12, 2022.
“This mission will build on the outcomes of the Joint AU/EAC/IGAD/COMESA pre-election assessment conducted over the last one month. In the course of my work, I will interact with a number of key stakeholders in pursuit of peaceful elections.