How Uhuru fell victim to law barring harambees
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday fell victim to a new law barring politicians from donating at harambees ahead of next year’s elections, when he failed to contribute for an office complex for a church in Gatundu South.
Addressing members of the PCEA Kimunyu church at the groundbreaking ceremony, President Kenyatta said the law, which came into effect on Sunday, barred him from donating, but promised his support when the ban is lifted.
“For now, the law bars me from making a contribution towards this noble project, but I promise that when the right time comes, we shall stand together and complete the building,” he said.
The law prohibits aspirants for political office from fund-raising eight months before elections and those who contravene it risk disqualification.
PLOT TO RIG ELECTIONS
The President said the General Elections would be held as planned even as the Opposition alleges a rigging plot.
“Let us not be distracted by the opposition talk. Let us focus on mobilising our people to register as voters, as well as develop our country in our different capacities,” he said.
Thika town MP Alice Ng’ang’a said the Opposition had no right to tell the electoral commission how to do its work.
“We will not allow the opposition to dictate how the IEBC shall conduct its mandate. Let those tasked with auditing the register do their work,” she said.
Kiambu Senator Kiamani Wamatangi said the Opposition was bent on distracting the President from his development goals.
INCITEMENT
“They have realised that they cannot compete with your development record and are attempting to distract you,” said Mr Wamatangi.
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria urged the church and international community not to wait until it is too late to talk to politicians inciting people to violence.
He said Mr Raila Odinga’s refusal to sign an accord for peaceful elections and his recent announcement that he will not accept the outcome of next year’s elections was tantamount to incitement.
Earlier, the President attended a family thanksgiving mass organised by his mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, at St Gabriel’s Mutomo church in Gatundu.
