NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 17 – State House has denied the existence of any meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Central Kenya leaders.
Spokesperson Kanze Dena described the information as false and misleading and clarified that they are not aware of any such meeting.
“His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta’s attention has been drawn to misleading information circulating online on a purported meeting with Central Kenya elected leaders this week,” Dena said.
“The President did not convene nor postpone any such meeting. Therefore, the information is false and misleading,” she added.
The State House spokesperson mentioned that the President Kenyatta’s diary was well planned out for other activities away from the misinformation that he was scheduled to meet Central Kenya leaders.
“His Excellency President Kenyatta’s diary for the remainder of the week and the weekend ahead has several public engagements of which Kenyans will be duly informed through established platforms,” Dena stated.
This announcement comes hours after a section of lawmakers received a message abruptly calling off the meeting comprising Mt Kenya leaders across the political divide that was scheduled for tomorrow at Statehouse, Nairobi.
The invite message indicated the meeting had been cancelled after widely consultation and would be set on a date to be communicated.
Leaders who had been invited for the meeting included Governors, Senators, and Members of Parliament with no details on the agenda of the meeting indicated in the invite.
“After wide consultations, I have deferred the meeting that was scheduled for tomorrow, Friday 18th March 2022, at Statehouse Nairobi, with MPs, Senators and Governors, from the Mt Kenya region to a later date, which will be communicated to you, in due course,” read the invite.
Already the alleged meeting had started eliciting mixed reactions and causing jitters as the leaders had been invited across the political divide including those in United Democratic Alliance who are currently termed his opponents.
On his twitter account, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa a key ally of Ruto somewhat signaled he had been invited for the function.
“Too little too late. Am busy,” he twitted.
Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria also slammed President Kenyatta over his planned meeting with Mt Kenya leaders as “too little too late.”
Kuria said Thursday that the leaders drawn from the vote-rich region “have been waiting for a proper sit down for four years” to no avail.
“To call them 143 days before the election and when you have already declared yourself the campaign manager for Kitendawili is contemptuous. With utmost respect and deep regret, just let us be,” the Chama Cha Kazi party leader said on a Facebook post.
The uphill task for Kenyatta being to unite the Mt Kenya leaders who are spilt between his camp and that of his deputy.
While Kenyatta has preferred Orange Democratic Movement Leader Raila Odinga as his successor, leaders from the Mt Kenya region have opposed the decision.
