As the 2022 buses continue to tout for their preferred candidates ahead of the polls in just 2 years time, the man with the records and zero presidential characters has surfaced – By Gerald Gekara.
Yes, Peter Kenneth has for the most part of this last decade, wallowed in uncertainty and unreliability, but will he rise from his muddy paddle?.
Peter Kenneth was first elected a Member of Parliament for Gatanga Constituency in December 2002 under former President Mwai Kibaki’s National rainbow coalition ticket.
In his tenure, Gatanga constituency was voted the best managed in Kenya, with nearly 90% of homes having electricity, and most parts of the constituency being tarmacked.
This made him sourt ‘greener pastures in Nairobi when he declared his interests to run for Nairobi governorship. He was sent home packing by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, despite campaigning himself as ‘Kijana wa mtaa’ with a handful of corporates supporting him.
Fast forward to 2020, aside from his home backyard, Peter Kenneth enjoys meager support from any political outfit. Despite this, Peter Kenneth came out on Saturday, June 28, to pledge his allegiance to Uhuru Kenyatta hoping to get a cabinet secretarial job.
He was backed by a section of average Mount Kenya leaders, who beckoned the president to look their way and have him fill a cabinet slot. This is after reports of a looming cabinet reshuffle hit the political webs.
Peter Kenneth pledged to support Uhuru’s development agenda and ensure that the president is respected among political circles.
“It is impossible for the President to work with people who insult him. For the remaining part of his term, he needs people who support him to help him complete his development work,” he said.
Soiling his own pants
But his utterances could signal an end to his ambitions for a cabinet slot, leave alone the top seat.
While addressing the position of the central region, Peter Kenneth alluded to the fact that since his backyard boats of a majority of Kenya’s population, it ‘MUST’ get a seat at the table.
“We cannot be the majority and be left out when major decisions are being made,” he added.
Kenneth seems to be going contrary to the ambitions of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ambition with the Building Bridges Initiative, and may not survive under his wings, just like his peers.
Utterances and affiliations led to the rude ousting of Mwangi Kiunjuri from his Agriculture seat, as well as a host of Mount Kenya leaders from their positions of influence.
This has left the central region with Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru a possible spokesperson for the region. This is attributed to her affiliation with the President’s good side, as well as that of the opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Despite her strong endorsements from the state, Waiguru has not declared whether she intends to run for the top seat. This has left the GEMA community with no choice but to resurrect prodigal names like Peter Kenneth, poising them for 2022.
