A war of words has erupted in Kajiado between Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and his main rival for the Azimio La Umoja ticket, former Governor David Nkedienye.
Lenku has told off Nkedienye over his demand to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for “an ODM direct ticket” to run for Governor of Kajiado.
Lenku said Raila’s Presidential success in 2022 is more important than any other position and that Nkedienye should “stop Blackmailing Raila” to give him an ODM ticket.
He said Raila is looking for strong allies in the Jubilee Party.
“Raila’s major interest in 2022 is to win the Presidency. The spirit of the Handshake and the Azimio La Umoja is to bring on board Jubilee support into his basket; not a battle for County positions,” said Lenku.
Addressing residents during the launch of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kajiado Town on Tuesday,Lenku dared Nkedienye to leave Azimio family if he felt he was being treated unfairly.
“We are looking at the bigger picture. Jubilee will not support Raila for the Presidency and also lose its position of Governor in Kajiado to ODM. ODM has more clout in Narok and it will be supported there to fight it off with UDA” said a furious Lenku.
He said Jubilee was stronger in Kajiado and that is why it will be supported for the top positions as it supports ODM for the other County positions in the spirit of the political partnership between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Odinga.
“Uhuru Kenyatta delivered all the top County positions; 80% of the MP seats and 80 % of the MCA seats. How do you now think all this can be lost for an unbridled ambition of a person I removed from office when I was jobless,” posed Lenku.
Lenku added, “If you think you are popular, you can leave Azimio and run on your own. No one will take your blackmail. Not me, not Raila Odinga,Not Uhuru Kenyatta..Not Kajiado people, “Lenku said.
Lenku’s hard hitting statement against his rival for the Azimio ticket comes in the wake of Nkedienye’s consistent statements that he will be on the ballot with an ODM ticket.
“My hands are not tied. We are observing and, if they (Azimio) pick a candidate through consensus, I will declare the process UNFAIR, “said Nkedienye.
There is wide spread talk in Kajiado’s political space that Nkedienye has become jittery at the realization that Uhuru and Raila have agreed to back Jubilee for the Kajiado Governorship position in 2022 and ODM for the Narok Governorship.