Ex-Embu Gubernatorial Candidate Kathuri Denies Receiving Sh10 Million to Support Mbarire

Former Manyatta MP Emilio Kathuri has refuted reports that he was promised Sh10 million to withdraw from the Embu gubernatorial race in favor of his UDA challenger Cecily Mbarire.

He dismissed the claim as a rumor spread by his rivals and stated that he was unconcerned by people who claimed he only received Sh300,000 of the total.

The Jubilee Party candidate claimed he chose to support his challenger despite the fact that his name was still on the ballot in order to denounce alleged maltreatment of his party.

After casting his ballot at the Embu Municipal Hall in Embu Town on Tuesday, Kathuri joked that he would have only agreed to support the candidate in exchange for a higher sum of money.

Read: Jubilee Embu Gubernatorial Candidate Kathuri Drops Bid, To Support UDA’s Mbarire

“The one who is saying Sh300,000 is not right. If I was handed huge amounts to carry in a sack, I would have taken it. That is very little amount to sway me…” he said.

“Those saying that I received Sh10m, such a rumour was expected (after stepping down). I withdrew after Jubilee Party messed me up and I didn’t find it tenable to contest. My party took my popularity for granted.”

Kathuri asserted that a group he claimed was buying residents’ identification cards may have been the cause of the county’s poor voter turnout.

“There was a rumour that some pro-government people were buying identity cards from people perceived to be inclined to a certain political persuasion…  If you sold your identity card, you have thrown away your future,” he warned.

Read Also: UDA Summons Three Embu Politicians Over Burning of Party Poll Material

Last week during a meeting with deputy president William Ruto, Kathuri declared that Kenya Kwanza would emerge victorious hence his decision to ditch Jubilee.

“I want to take this opportunity to say thank you for having been accepted in the hustler family and I hereby state categorically that I am supporting my sister Cecily Mbarire,” Kathuri stated. 

Susan Nyaga, a candidate for Embu Woman Representative on the Jubilee Party ticket, was also welcomed by the DP.

Ruto said that the defections showed how popular Kenya Kwanza was in the Mount Kenya region.

Read Also: Keep the Peace – DP Ruto Urges As Polls Draw Near

The action by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s allies, he continued, will ensure Mbarire’s victory in the race for governor and solidify the Kenya Kwanza’s support for the president.

Additionally, should he win the presidential election on August 9, the UDA candidate promised the two candidates positions in his administration.

“My good brother Emilio welcome to the hustler family. I also want to welcome Susan to the team and I want to agree with you that we need to give a chance to our sister Mbarire.

“I am confident that with the support of Kathuri, it is now done. Their teams will now join the UDA fraternity in Embu county and we are looking forward to a resounding victory on August 9,” Ruto stated.