Why Uhuru cancelled Ruto’s prayer rally in Kenol, Murang’a

Why Uhuru cancelled Ruto’s mega rally in Murang’a

Tony Mukere

May 10, 2019 10:46 AM

Rally cancelled at the last minute

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto

A plan by Deputy President William Ruto to hold a mega rally in the Murang’a was on Thursday cancelled for the second time with the Standard reporting sources aware of the meeting saying it was cancelled on direct orders of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The meeting was to be held in Kenol town and was intended to show Ruto’s support in the populous Mt Kenya region which has hitherto been the stronghold of President Kenyatta.

It was branded a prayer meeting and most of the organization was left to the bishops who are close to the DP.

Area Woman Representative Sabina Chege, who is a close ally of the deputy president, confirmed that the rally was cancelled to avoid picking a fight with the head of state.

“Since the meeting could be seen to antagonize President Uhuru Kenyatta, it was postponed to a day that would be communicated. Although there was no such agenda, people might interpret it in the wrong way,” Chege stated.

Another MP who was part of the organizing committee was quoted, anonymously, claiming that Kenyatta personally intervened to have the event called off.

“The President called off the meeting. There was panic within Government over the large number of leaders going for the prayer meeting. The president was in catch-22 and asked the DP to call off the meeting,” the MP said.

The development came amid perceived division in Jubilee with a section of MPs and other elected leaders picking sides.

One side aligned to the DP, has been branded tanga tanga while the President’s camp has been identified as the Kieleweke team.

Nominated MP Maina Kamanda, who plays a leader role in the Kieleweke formation, welcomed the cancellation said the rally was not a prayer rally but a political forum to send a message to the head of state.

Tony Mukere