TNA
aspirant for the Gatundu North by-election Moses Kuria’s campaigns suffered a
devastating blow last week after his campaign manager George Kaimburu withdrew
his support and defected to Joachim Kamere’s camp alongside hundreds of
supporters.
Contrary
to perceptions that clinching a TNA ticket for the by-election was as good as
being elected, the reality is now sinking on Kuria who must now burn the
midnight oil to counter Kamere’s growing popularity.
Kiamburu’s
defection has drastically reduced chances of Kuria winning the seat and more so
after he made a revelation that Kuria is not even a registered voter in Gatundu
South and that he did not have a home in the constituency.
Sources
say although Kuria is a registered voter, his vote is suspected to be in
Nairobi County and not in Gatundu something that is beginning to work
negatively against him. By last week, Kiamburu’s defection and the new
revelations were hurting Kuria’s campaigns who is now said to be relying on
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s support to win the seat.
The architect of the anti-Kuria
campaigns is the widow of the immediate former MP Joseph Ngugi. Joyce
Wanjiku, the widow, came second in the party controversial primaries. At first,
she had plotted to decamp from TNA to contest on URP ticket but things did not
work out for her. She was forced by circumstances to swallow her pride but to
remain in TNA.
Kiamburu
is now leading an onslaught against Kuria revealing his weak points to Kamere
campaign team who are now using it to finish him politically. Sources say
majority of voters see Kuria as an outsider while others claim he is arrogant
as compared to Kamere.
What
has now come out clear is that Uhuru has decided to keep off the Gatundu by-elections
to allow voters to elect a leader of their choice. Sources say Uhuru might also
be acting on intelligence report which according to sources close to Kuria’s
campaign team indicated that Kamere was ahead.
It
is against this background that Uhuru does not want to be embarrassed at his
own political backyard should voters put aside political party affiliation to
vote for Kamere.
Deputy
President William Ruto was last week embarrassed when section Gatundu voters
publicly rejected his calls to have them vote for Kuria. Ruto had been duped by
Kuria that he was a popular candidate and invited Ruto to campaign for him only
for voters to humiliate the DP and Kuria.
Some
statements made by Ruto during his campaign tour has equally driven away more
voters from Kuria’s camp. “Mimi naunga mkono huyu jamaa Kuria kwa sababu yeye
anaweza kubishana na wale watu wa vitendawili na hiyo inatupa wakati wa kufanya
kazi mimi na Rais", said DP Ruto.
Gatundu
voters are now left wondering if Kuria will go to parliament to checkmate and
insult Cord leader Raila Odinga or to represent them and to bring development
to the electorate.
It
is said Uhuru had sent Ruto and Adan Dwale to test waters for him and the
report we have is that the reception the two leaders received was not
impressive. Duale was during the visit was heard saying that Kuria’s victory is
a forgone conclusion and that he will only participate in the by-election.
As
if Duale was confirming claims that Kuria is arrogant and proud, voters have
not taken his statements lightly. “The people of Gatundu have no choice but
vote for Kuria”. He made the remark in Nairobi last week during a fund raising
meeting to raise fund for Kuria’s campaigns where Sh8m was raised.
Initially, Kuria had hoped to run on
the back of the party’s popularity in the constituency but was forced to run
back to the drawing board after he realised that the candidates he defeated in
the by-election and who did not concede defeat were slowly regrouping to
support Kamere.
During the nominations, Kuria
garnered 8,343 votes ahead of Wanjiku who got 6,685; Kamere garnered 2,353
while former civic leader, John Karing’u got 1,811.
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