Cracks in Jubilee have widened after a section of MPs allied to Deputy President William Ruto were barred from accessing Rift Valley regional headquarters where President Uhuru Kenyatta had a function. 

Senate Chief Whip and Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika and Nakuru East MP David Gikaria were stopped by a contigent of police officers manning the entrance with strict instructions “from above”.

The incident, which caught the two off guard happened two hours before Uhuru landed in Nakuru from Mombasa where he had announced a mini-reshuffle of the Cabinet and a raft of policy changes. 

Only MPs Martha Wangari (Gilgil) and Samuel Gachobe (Subukia) attended the event where Uhuru issued 50,000 title deeds to members of Nyakinyua Dancers who entertained founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in the 1960s and 70s. 

Presidential ambitions

Ten MPs led by Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati), a die-hard supporter of DP Ruto’s 2022 presidential ambitions and Moses Cheboi (Kuresoi North) gave the event a wide berth. Cheboi is also the Deputy Speaker in the National Assembly.

Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama was also absent as well as his Njoro counterpart Charity Kathambi, Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Raymond Moi (Rongai) and Joseph Tonui (Kuresoi South). 

Senator Kihika and Gikaria pleaded with the security guards to let them in but their pleas fell on deaf ears. They left in a huff.  

“We were informed that orders from above are that we cannot be allowed entry because we belong to an Unwanted Faction!” said Senator Kihika. 

“It is not a big deal. I am focused on my job,” she said adding that she was already on the ground  meeting the electorate. 

She said the move to stop them from participating in a public event in their constituency was against the spirit of Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) upon which a strong and cohesive nation is to be built on. 

In his speech, President Kenyatta delivered another warning to leaders to focus their energies on issues afflicting Kenyans saying he would not entertain politics of hatred and division. “Tunataka hii mwaka uwe wa kazi (we want to focus on work not politics),” he said.

Nyakinyua Groups

The President also directed the Ministry of Lands to ensure no more extra charges towards the Nyakinyua Group members who have waited for too long to get the title deeds.

“I am delighted to join you in realising the promise we made to you concerning title deeds.

As Jubilee administration we are committed to solving land issues. Some of the title deeds that have problems will be addressed and delivered within two weeks,” he stated.