Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o has suggested that President Uhuru Kenyatta could still have a political role after the 2022 General Election.
Speaking to First Lady Margaret Kenyatta during her visit to the county, Nyong’o asked her to tell the President that “Kenyans are waiting for him to present his nomination papers again”.
He said that in 2007, when he served as ODM secretary general, Kenyans had expected Kenyatta to file nomination papers, but he did not. According to Nyong’o, that left the contest as a straight fight between incumbent Mwai Kibaki, who was on the PNU ticket, and Raila Odinga of ODM.
Nyong’o said the Constitution requires a president to leave office after two five-year terms. He added that Kenyatta, who took over from Kibaki in 2013 and won another term in 2017, had so far indicated that he was not interested in seeking another term.
He nevertheless said political calculations could change before the 2022 General Election, especially if constitutional changes are made.
Nyong’o also urged the First Lady to keep supporting the Beyond Zero campaign beyond 2022. “We will still need your services,” the governor said.
He welcomed the March 9 handshake between Uhuru and Raila, saying it helped restore calm after the tensions that followed the previous year’s presidential election result.
Recalling the 2007 contest, Nyong’o said Raila had built a wider coalition with leaders from the Luhya community in Western, the Kalenjin in the Rift Valley and Muslim leaders from the coast before seeking the presidency.
He said Kibaki was later declared the winner with 46 per cent of the vote and sworn in. Nyong’o added that Raila also claimed victory, violence followed, hundreds of people were killed and more than 600,000 others were displaced. He said that crisis led to the National Accord and Reconciliation Act and Raila’s appointment as prime minister.
Margaret Kenyatta was in Kisumu to launch the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT) campaign. Mozambique’s First Lady Isaura Nyusi also attended the event.
Hundreds of residents turned up for a free medical camp organised by Mrs Kenyatta.
