Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli yesterday hosted Kanu followers led by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi to discuss what sources said were upcoming Building Bridges Initiative (BBI)and 2022 succession politics.

Others at the meeting at Atwoli’s Ildamat home in Kajiado county were senator James Orengo, Jubilee Party vice-chairman David Murathe,  Majority Deputy Whip Maoka Maore, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, Tiaty lawmaker William Kamket and National Assembly Minority whip Junet Mohamed.

Yesterday was the first time for Gideon who is being groomed to wrest  control of the vote-rich Rift Valley region from Deputy President William Ruto who has become increasingly sidelined by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his allies.

Sources at the meeting told People Daily that the leaders discussed the BBI  that is being spearheaded by Uhuru and Opposition chief Raila Odinga.

“We were setting the stage for BBI activities that are set to resume soon. We are discussing how to unite the country and cobble together alliances that will help President Uhuru realise his agenda,” said a source who attended the meeting but who requested anonymity.

“Kanu leaders agreed to activate the party’s wide network countrywide to propagate the BBI campaign,”  added the source

Atwoli’s home has become the venue of meetings from where controversial political statements have been made, notably endorsement of Raila’s presidential candidacy.

Denouncing Ruto

Atwoli and Murathe have been on the forefront to denounce Ruto’s presidential ambitions and have instead enforced Raila.

The meeting comes after Last week, Murathe told Kenyans to allow Orange Democratic Movement leader to take over the country’s next president once Uhuru retires in 2022.

“We think it’s time Kenyans rewarded the years of struggle of Raila Amollo Odinga. They owe it to him. It’s like Mandela, and 2022 will be a Mandela Moment.

And we would also like to tell him (Raila) to be a transitional president who will then nurture the young generation to take over in 2027,” he said.

Atwoli, who has been positioning himself as a king maker also threw his weight behind the Murathe statement.

“I am endorsing the comments by Murathe that he (Raila Odinga) should have ago at the Presidency.

Of course Kenyans have great people including Musalia Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka, Gideon Moi, and Joho (Hassan) who can do the job, but it appears to be Odinga’s time,” Atwoli said.

Yesterday’s meeting came at a time when the country is looking forward to the Senate deliberations of the Revenue Sharing Formula that split the nation with many lawmakers taking sides amid lobbying from the government side that has not borne fruit after eight sessions over the last two months.