Priest: Jubilee officials misleading Uhuru on 2022 politics : The Standard

Catholic Priest in Bomet has accused a section of Jubilee party officials of trying to mislead President Uhuru Kenyatta to extend his stay in power after his retirement.
Segemik Parish Priest Fr. Ambrose Kimutai said President Kenyatta should prepare to retire in 2022 and ignore those trying to hoodwink him into staying in leadership after his term.
“Whether there is going to be a change of constitution to create a new position Uhuru Kenyatta should retire honorably,” Fr. Kimutai said.
In his new year message to faithful, the priest said the debate over 2022 succession was heading in the wrong direction.
“Some people are forgetting that President Barack Obama retired despite being very young and now want to cheat Uhuru that he can prolong his stay,” the vocal priest said.
He hit out at Jubilee Vice chairman David Murathe and party secretary Raphael Tuju saying their recent utterances over upcoming succession was divisive and disrespectful.
“The two party officials should be courteous and show respect to the party deputy leader William Ruto. His union with Uhuru in 2013 bore peace and unity which had become elusive in Rift Valley,” he added.
The priest asked leaders to shun divisive politics and foster unity in the country.
He said the spirit of building bridges initiative and development should be embraced and not used to fight some leaders politically.

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“The spirit of handshake that Uhuru and former Prime minister Raila Odinga initiated to bring Kenyans together should live beyond 2022, and we should condemn any leader trying to use succession politics to divide the country,” he added.
The priest pointed out that Uhuru has already left a legacy with the years he has been in power and it will be foolhardy for him to spoil it by going for another position after his term expire in 2022.
COTU boss Francis Atwoli is among individuals in the country who have publicly said Uhuru was still young hence he should be given another position as soon as he retires.
While asking Jubilee Party officials to desist from further making divisive remarks, the clergy warned that such might ignite unnecessary breach of peace in the country.
He said: "It is not news that the DP has no debt with any community in fact he has publicly stated and so the duo should cease creating unnecessary debates."
He stated that in 2022 DP Ruto will submit himself just like any other presidential candidate and it will be upon Kenyans to decide for themselves who their next president will be.
He noted: "Voting is done by individuals and not community and so whether people talk it will not change anything."
Ends.

Related Topics

Catholic PriestBometAmbrose Kimutai2022Raila OdingaDP Ruto