The Mt Kenya Foundation, an influential club of prominent businessmen from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s backyard, has settled on ODM leader Raila Odinga as its preferred 2022 presidential candidate.
The Star has established that members of the foundation, known to play a key role in every electioneering period, will gather on Wednesday at a Nairobi hotel to endorse the decision and make it public.
The businessmen will be among the key guests at ODM leader Raila’s Friday meeting at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi, where he is expected to announce his presidential bid.
National Assembly deputy Majority whip Maoka Maore confirmed to the Star that MKF had settled on Raila.
Maore further said the announcement will be made on Wednesday.
"I can confirm both," he told the Star on the phone.
The endorsement will be a major boost for Raila as the foundation is known to have a massive financial war chest.
The endorsement will be a big blow to the One Kenya Alliance that was also angling for the support.
At least 2,000 elected leaders from across the political divide are expected at Raila’s event.
On Tuesday, a joint team of Jubilee and ODM Parliamentary Group toured the the 60,000-seater facility.
Over 20 pro-handshake MPs led by ODM chairman John Mbadi inspected ongoing works at the facility and urged supporters to turn up in big numbers.
It was a beehive of activity at the stadium, with organisers making final touches to ensure everything is in place ahead of the much hyped conference.
Suna East MP Junet Mohammed said they are satisfied with preparations disclosing that almost 2,000 elected leaders have confirmed participation.
“This is a national meeting; it is not a small meeting. It will give way forward for this country. This is the first time we are having a national discourse before someone declares candidature,” Junet said.
“People have been asking Raila whether he will be on the ballot. On Friday he will give answers to that.”
The National Assembly Minority whip said over 200 MPs, almost 30 governors have confirmed out of 40 county bosses invited.
As Mbadi was leading inspection at Kasarani, organisers of the Mt Kenya Foundation meeting at Safari Park were making the final touches on the programme.
A source who was involved in organising of previous meetings with Raila, One Kenya Alliance and Upya Movement also revealed that the foundation had settled on Raila.
“There will be a meeting of Mt Kenya Foundation in Nairobi on Wednesday. This time, members of the foundation will be meeting the business community, elected, religious and opinion leaders from their backyard,” he added.
During a meeting with Raila in September, the group showered the ODM boss with praise for his handshake with the President and efforts to unite the country.
Mt Kenya Foundation has also treated One Kenya Alliance principals to a luncheon in Nairobi.
Members hosted Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Gideon Moi (Kanu) and Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya) barely two weeks after having a similar event with Raila.
On November 11, it hosted Upya Movement leaders led by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani.
Interestingly, ODM has invited MKF and all the four OKA principals to the final Azimio la Umoja meeting. All the four principals have declared presidential ambitions.
The elite group had indicated that the President tasked it to present a name of a possible candidate to take over from him when he retires next year.
"The President asked us to advise him on what type of person he should hand the mantle to," MKF vice chairman Titus Ibui said.
On September 28, Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui revealed the list of demands issued to Raila by MKF in order to win their backing.
Kinyanjui said members of the foundation had made it clear that they will only back Raila, if he honours their demands.
Other than the post of Deputy President, MKF also asked the former Prime Minister to guarantee them powerful positions in government.
During the meeting with Oka principals, MKF said they did not have a preferred candidate.
The foundation’s chairman Peter Munga said the group would settle on a leader who will take care of its interests.
“We are business people. We are also agriculturalists. We trade with our crops. We trade with anything that can be sold at a profit as long it is okay with the government of the day,” Munga said.
He said what Mt Kenya voters are looking for is someone who will let the businessmen and women trade anywhere in the country.
During a meeting with Upya Movement, leaders of pastoralist communities threw their weight behind the political formation being crafted by the foundation.
Yatani said leaders from Arid and Semi Arid Lands want to be in political formation or alliance where they have “a stake and a space on the high table.”
“We are here to engage with you not as spectators but as key players in the emerging political and economic formations in the country. Our decision is informed by the trust we have in our President who has the best intentions for this country,” he said.
The foundation backed Uhuru and his predecessor Mwai Kibaki in past elections.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Orange party held a Parliamentary Group meeting and agreed to allocate 10 slots each to all the ODM legislators.
The adjustment on the number of delegates was arrived at after MPs demanded slots for their supporters during the meeting chaired by Mbadi at Chungwa House.
The Raila led party has 70 MPs in both houses of Parliament, which translates to additional 700 delegates.
“We agreed that each of them will bring 10 people. We have made those adjustments. That will form delegation that will have different kind of sitting arrangements,” Mbadi told the Star on the phone.
The parliamentary group also agreed that MPs and governors will work together to facilitate the delegates from their respective areas.
-Edited by SKanyara