I can only arbitrate Jubilee leaders eyeing Nairobi governors seat Uhuru

President Uhuru Kenyatta has distanced himself from the ongoing wrangles pitting Nairobi politicians eyeing the county governor’s seat on a Jubilee ticket.

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV, the president said that his role is to arbitrate between the leaders upon their request, adding that he cannot impose a candidate on the people.

“I cannot transcend on Kenyans’ rights to elect their leaders, especially in the Jubilee Party. It is upon the electorates to chose their preferred leaders,” said the president.

He expressed his wish that the leaders would embrace consensus and pick one of them to carry Jubilee’s flag in Nairobi County.

“I want our party to win the Nairobi gubernatorial race but I cannot say who will vie and who will not. No. Kenyans will choose,” he said.

Jubilee Party is facing a litmus test in the capital with Senator Mike Sonko and Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth vying to carry the flag.

Senator Mike Sonko has vehemently insisted that he is not ready to negotiate with Peter Kenneth, terming him as a traitor who went against the president during the 2013 General Election.

President Kenyatta said that if the two cannot agree then it is the responsibility of Kenyans to choose their leader through the ballot.

Uhuru defended the government’s decision to bar Mombasa County Governor Ali Hassan Joho from attending the re-launch of Mtongwe ferry in Mombasa, an event he presided over, saying he is answerable to all Kenyans on what he has been able to accomplish.

He said that Joho is also answerable to the people of Mombasa separately on his mandate.

The president reiterated that he is the president of Kenya hence he has a right to visit any part of the country without seeking permission from anyone.

The Head of State defended his development record saying his government is focused on revamping the country’s infrastructure in order to stimulate economic growth.

He told off opposition politicians who have been criticising him for taking credit for projects conceptualised during the grand coalition government headed by retired President Mwai Kibaki and then Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

He especially took pride in milestones achieved in the electricity connection initiative saying his government has doubled connection figures that existed before 2013.

Uhuru said the idea of investing in infrastructure is to create employment opportunities in all corners of the country.

“With electricity young men in the villages could be welding doors and windows for a local school. That is what we are targeting,” he said.