Recently appointed Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Team in the former Central Rift Valley, Nakuru County Assembly Speaker Susan Kihika, yesterday
Chaired a meeting with the top Nakuru County leadership led by the Governor Kinuthia Mbugua.
The seven Nakuru Jubilee MPs including Women Representative Mary Mbugua, the four Senators led by the elected one, James Kiarie Mungai also attended the meeting.
The forum, which kick-started her new role, started around midday at the Hotel Continental, near Parliament, Nairobi and is the first of a series to be spearheaded by Kihika, 42.
As expected today, an eighth MP, rebel ODM lawmaker Samuel Otara Arama was also present with the surprise member present being Kanu’s Moses Cheboi of Kuresoi North constituency.
However, Jubilee MP Onesmus Kimani Ngunjiri of Bahati skipped the occasion, although some sources indicated that he’d been seen at the venue but later disappeared.Ngunjiri is the dark horse in this arrangement, initiated by both President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Samoei Ruto, as he’s reportedly opposed Kihika being the flagbearer of the Presidential torch in the region.
However Nelson Gaichuhie, the Subukia MP also of Jubilee but who’s outside Kenya sent his apologies as did Jacob Macharia of Molo but Deputy Governor Joseph Kibore Ruttoh was in attendance.
Others present were:
David Gikaria Wairimu- Nakuru Town East
Ndiritu Mathenge- Gilgil
Joseph Kiuna- Njoro
John Kihagi- Naivasha
While Cheboi attended, his Kanu counterpart, Raymond Kipruto arap Moi was absent as usual as was another breakaway MP, Kuresoi South legislator Zakayo Cheruiyot of the Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto-led Chama Cha Mashinani party.
Other Senators present were Martha Wangari, Liza Chelule and Paul Njoroge who’re all Jubilee nominees.
“It was a briefing meeting regarding the Jubilee Party. She (Kihika) will this Friday be meeting the Jubilee MCAs and on the coming Friday 18th, she’ll be meeting with all the aspirants in Nakuru County”, one of those in attendance confided.
The meeting was to strategise on how to start the re-election of the UhuRuto Presidency during next year’s polls.
Kihika is in charge of the campaigns covering Nakuru, Laikipia and Baringo Counties and was appointed to the position recently during the inaugural Jubilee National Governing Council held at the Bomas of Kenya and presided over by both President Uhuru and DP Ruto.
A source said earlier that the Nakuru top elected political leadership were due to meet at a resort at Sunbird Lodge in Elementaita, Naivasha but it was abruptly shifted to the capital city for unknown reasons.