Former Mukurweini Member of Parliament Kabando Wa Kabando has urged political leaders from the Mount Kenya region who lost their seats in the recent elections to accept and move on.
His message, sent out on Wednesday evening, came on the day that Azimio La Umoja presidential contender Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua met Azimio leaders from the region at a Nairobi hotel.
“Martha and I had a very positive engagement with Azimio leaders from the Central Kenya region,” said Raila after the meeting. “As Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition, we are committed to a one united Kenya policy. We are walking this path together; we are going to rebuild this country together.”
The meeting coincided with the start of the presidential petition hearings at the Supreme Court, in which Raila has challenged the presidential results of the August 9 general election. United Democratic Alliance’s William Ruto was announced winner after garnering 50.49% of the vote.
UDA also took the lion’s share of the votes cast in the region. Of his 7,176,141 votes, 4.5 million votes were majorly from 17 counties:10 in Mount Kenya and the rest in Rift Valley.
‘Yellow Wave’
UDA also swept Senatorial, Gubernatorial, Parliamentary, and MCA seats in Laikipia, Tharaka-Nithi, Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Embu, Meru, and Nakuru.
Among the high-profile politicians sent packing by the ‘yellow wave’ include Ngunjiri Wambugu (MP, Nyeri Town), Lee Kinyanjui (Governor, Nakuru), Kanini Kega (MP, Kieni), Amos Kimunya (MP, Kipipiri), Jeremiah Kioni (MP, Ndaragwa), and Francis Kimemia (Governor, Nyandarua).
“In all elections I’ve contested, I always publicly accept voters’ verdict. I advise Mt.Kenya Azimio colleagues who were clearly unsuccessful as myself to humbly embrace 3As: Accept, Admit, Advance,” says Kabando who run for the Nyeri Senatorial seat on a NARC Kenya ticket. “Respect the voter. Submit to Victors. Don’t be bitter. Be democrats. Let’s move on.”
Kabando was beaten by UDA’s Wahome Wamatinga in the August plebiscite. He says Ruto and Rigathi Gachagua (his running mate) had persuaded him to vie for the seat on a UDA ticket.
“I know that had I taken UDA ticket, today I’d be Nyeri Senator. But do I regret? NO, NO, NEVER. I know, nay, believe that leadership not incumbent has its place, if, when hoisted on lofty ideals. That’s democracy.”
Poor Strategy
Kabando says part of the reason behind Azimio’s dismal performance in vote-rich region was because of poor campaigns.
“High malpractices must clearly have adversely affected #BabaNaMama total Presidency votes. But quite honestly, we all at lower seats cannot claim we were rigged out. In fact, barely 3 of us Azimio candidates in Mt. Kenya campaigned for Raila and Martha except when they visited!”
One of the prayers in Raila’s petition at the Supreme Court is the nullification of the presidential results. In the event that this prayer is successful, there is a possibility of a presidential election re-run.
Do things different
Kabando says Azimio must be more strategic if they’re to emerge victorious: “If there’s a Presidential rerun, we must do things radically different to win. Regrets and blame games (are) futile.”
He however says he does not harbour any regrets for running for the Senatorial seat.
“Public positions is not entitlement. Some of us were rejected because of being in Azimio. And that is no blot on our integrity. Tusonge.”
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