President Uhuru Will Not Campaign for Raila-Karua Ticket – Murathe Insists

President Uhuru Kenyatta will not campaign in Mount Kenya for the Raila-Karua ticket, Jubilee Party vice chairman David Murathe has maintained.

Murathe stated on Sunday that Uhuru is ready to hand over power to whoever wins the presidential election on August 9.

According to Murathe, the President will be dispensing his mandate as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief until the election.

He further stated that Uhuru will not remain in office after the August elections unless there is a run-off.

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“You don’t expect him to hit the ground running that is why now you find it is Martha and Raila. They are both on the ticket.

“Uhuru is not on the ticket. He will be going home in the next 80 days and he has to oversee a peaceful transition and peaceful election. He has stepped into his shoe of being the President and Commander-in-Chief,” Murathe said.

Earlier reports indicated that the head of state will campaign for Raila starting June.

According to Uhuru’s allies, the outgoing president will commission projects in the Mt Kenya region while simultaneously wooing supporters to support the former prime minister and Karua.

Read Also: President Uhuru To Campaign for Raila in Mt Kenya Starting June – Allies

Kanini Kega, Kieni MP and Jubilee Director of Elections, told the Nation that Uhuru will campaign in the vote-rich region in June and July.

He stated that the head of state’s campaign schedule will be released in due time, despite the fact that the tour will take place after the Madaraka Day celebrations.

According to Kega, the tour will begin in Nyeri before moving on to the rest of Mt Kenya counties.

“His countrywide campaigns will start with the mountain. We do not just want him to the campaign. The President will also commission projects,” Kega said as quoted by the daily.

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“President Kenyatta will also show us which direction to take. It is obvious Mt Kenya is with Karua. She is the person we will oscillate around when the boss leaves the office.”

After his trip to Switzerland, the President was to meet with a number of Mt Kenya leaders to prepare for his visit.

Last week, Murathe said the outgoing president will slow down campaigning to let Raila define his own campaign path.

“Uhuru has set the ball rolling. Everything is in place, but the President will not be on the ground to campaign. His absence during the unveiling of Raila’s running mate does not speak to issues in Azimio, but was calculated to have the aspirant run his campaign,” said Murathe.

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He claimed that President Uhuru will handle the show from behind the scenes, and that the Jubilee Party machinery has been released to campaign for Raila.

Uhuru stated in April that when the time comes, he will be on the ground to help the Azimio presidential candidate, particularly in the Mt Kenya region.

On April 14, the President lashed out at people opposed to his role in succession politics while speaking to parishioners at the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa in Kandara, Murang’a County.

“There are those who think I would not be on the campaign trail. They should hold their horses. They will see me traversing the country telling the people my truth, where do they think they can take me? I am also a Kenyan and have my democratic rights,” he said.