Why Uhuru is against Muturi’s presidential bid

President Uhuru Kenyatta has moved to secure the Mt Kenya vote bloc in a bid to manage his succession.

President Kenyatta, who has been engaging in talks with opposition leaders to fashion a formidable formula against his deputy William Ruto, last weekend held a closed-door meeting with Meru leaders to align them behind his plan.

Impeccable sources confirmed that the objective of the meeting was to craft a plan to rein in National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, who has announced his bid for the presidency next year.

The meeting at State House, Nairobi, was attended by Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, his Tharaka Nithi counterpart Muthomi Njuki, Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, Kenya Revenue Authority chairman Amb Francis Muthaura, Igembe North MP Maoka Maore and officials of the powerful Njuri Ncheke council of elders.

Others at the meeting were Lapsset  Transport Corridor chairman Titus Ibui and Industrialisation PS Peter Kaberia.

Muturi, who was in May crowned Mt Kenya spokesman by the elders of the Ameru, Embu and Kikuyu communities in quick succession, has been charting his own political path away from the succession schemes hatched at State House.

His moves are said to have irked the power brokers scheming the 2022 presidential race aimed at bulldozing political bigwigs to back ODM leader Raila Odinga.

During the meeting, Ameru’s top leaders were whipped to withdraw their support for Muturi to slow him down.

Muturi, who was in May crowned Mt Kenya spokesman by the elders of the Ameru, Embu and Kikuyu communities in quick succession, has been charting his own political path away from the succession schemes hatched at State House.

His moves are said to have irked the power brokers scheming the 2022 presidential race aimed at bulldozing political bigwigs to back ODM leader Raila Odinga.

During the meeting, Ameru’s top leaders were whipped to withdraw their support for Muturi to slow him down.