President Uhuru Makes U-Turn, Set to Campaign for Raila in Mt Kenya

President Uhuru Kenyatta will start campaigning for his preferred presidential candidate Raila Odinga in the Mt Kenya region starting in June.

According to Uhuru allies led by Kieni MP Kanini Kega, the head of state will hit the ground running in Mt Kenya next month, where he is expected to launch different development projects as well as drumming up support for Raila's bid.

According to the reports, the head of state had allegedly been advised to keep away from the region as one way of avoiding political embarrassments that could come with marketing his candidate in the region largely perceived as Ruto's stronghold.

However, Kanini's revelations could come in handy for Raila and his running mate Martha Karua, who has already embarked on massive campaigns in the region.

The President will first tour Nyeri county to inspect the ongoing Mau Mau road project before touring other parts of the Mt Kenya region to campaign for Raila.

"Our President will start his campaigns for Raila in Mt Kenya region before moving out to other parts of the country. He will not only campaign for Raila but will also commission various development projects," Kega as quoted by the Nation. 

It is reported that once the president jets into the country from his Switzerland trip, he will hold a meeting with a number of Mt Kenya leaders allied to Azimio to plan his maiden visits. Already, a number of leaders have confirmed receiving invitations for the meeting.

A section of Jubilee party leaders had earlier claimed that Raila does not need President Uhuru in the Mt Kenya region to drum up support for him since the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate is already popular in the region.

“I would want to keep off even the imagination that we need President Uhuru to come to Mt Kenya to popularize Raila; Raila is already popular in Mt Kenya and we are there to do the work for him. We are the people who have been elected here,” said Kipipiri MP Amos Kimunya in early May.

Already, a number of Kenya Kwanza leaders led by Ruto's running mate Rigathi Gachagua had congratulated Uhuru over his decision to keep off Raila campaigns in Mt Kenya.

Speaking on Saturday during Kenya Kwanza rallies in Nyeri county, Rigathi said he is happy that he will not cross paths with his former boss Uhuru during the campaigns. 

"I want to congratulate President Uhuru because he has seen that Mt Kenya people don't like his candidate Raila and has decided to step aside in his campaigns. We had planned to deal with Raila but wherever we directed our jabs at him, we usually saw our son Uhuru and we could retreat. Now that Uhuru has kept off, we will face Raila on the face and we will send him to Bondo direct," stated Kachagua.