Moses Kuria responds to President Kenyatta after Washenzi remark

Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has restated his stance that President Uhuru Kenyatta has neglected the Mount Kenya region in the government’s development agenda.

Taking to social media shortly after President Kenyatta told off leaders accusing him of sidelining the Central Kenya region, Kuria reiterated that Mt. Kenya lacks in development despite the region being the President’s political stronghold.

In a show of bravado, Kuria firmly stated: “Mt Kenya region also deserves development just like any other region.”

“H.E the President is 100% right. He is spot on. We need development in every corner of this country. It is in that spirit and in line with the President’s position that I believe Mt Kenya region also deserves development just like any other region. Right now it’s not happening,” said Kuria.

Speaking in Mombasa on Monday, President Kenyatta described politicians accusing him of neglecting the Mt. Kenya region as “Washenzi”, further asking them to leave him alone, as he (Kenyatta) is focused on ensuring that every part of the country benefits from the government’s development agenda.

“I am not a person who is easily scared… Those going around playing petty politics I want to tell them this. We will not launch development projects based on which region a leader comes from. We want all 45 million Kenyans to benefit, we want all corners of this country to grow,” said Kenyatta during the commissioning of the Mama Ngina waterfront regeneration project.

“We want a country where every single citizen is entitled to development regardless of where the leader comes from. Kwa hivyo hao washenzi waachane na mimi…(Let those stupid people leave me alone).”

The president’s remarks came in the wake of sentiments made by Moses Kuria, who accused President Kenyatta of launching development projects in other parts of the country but neglecting his own home turf.

“Mimi nataka kusema hivi, tukifungua mwaka wa 2019 nyinyi mfikirie sana. Sisi mambo yetu ni kupiga kura, baada ya kupiga kura maendeleo tunapatiana kwingine,” said the outspoken legislator in a clip dated December 31, 2018.

Kuria had retracted the December statement and apologised, saying his remarks were taken out of context, further assuring that his relationship with the President is still solid.

“I refuse to be sidetracked by those people… I have never disrespected the Head of State. If in any case any word I uttered could have been misconstrued in a bad way, I offer my profuse apologies to the Head of State and to anyone who would want to misconstrue… because that was not my intention,” said Kuria in a press address last Friday.

Kuria’s apology came a few hours after elders from his constituency, in a presser at Kimunyu Cutural Centre, dismissed his utterances and described them as “unfortunate, reckless, irresponsible and displayed total lack of respect for the Head of State.”