Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has for the last couple of days been under fire over a statement he made in a campaign rally castigating President Uhuru Kenyatta for supporting ODM leader Raila Odinga’s presidential bid.
Kuria claimed that the president is going against his father’s wish by supporting the ODM supremo. The controversial lawmaker claimed that the president was going against an alleged 1969 oath that bars the Mt Kenya community from electing a leader who comes from a community that doesn’t practice circumcision.
According to him, the said oath was administered on the Mt Kenya community by the founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
“Uhuru is going against his father’s wish by supporting Raila Odinga and he knows what Kenyatta said. We even took an oath never to support Raila for the presidency and that is why we are backing Ruto,” Kuria said.
His sentiment however brought a lot of mixed reactions from Kenyans who accused him of being tribal, a claim he has come out to dismiss.
Speaking at a church service in Murang’a, Kuria claimed that his sentiment was not an attack on any community but a proclamation of what the communities in the Mt Kenya region have been told over the years.
Kuria further noted that his statement in Gatundu was meant to challenge the community leaders from reneging on their promises. He accused the elders of doublespeak in telling the community who is the right leader to vote for and those not to vote for.
“My only question is; why is it that when you are in a good relationship with a certain group of people, you tell us that they are good and when things go sour, you give us an oath to take?” Kuria opposed.
“Me as a person I don’t have an issue with anybody including the Luos. My issue is reneging on promises and agreements.”
