Why Uhuru, Raila rescheduled Mt Kenya tour to June

The planned tour by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga to Mt Kenya will not take place as it had been scheduled.

The two leaders were to tour the region between April and May which has been postponed to June.

This follows a simmering rebellion by a section of Central Kenya politicians over the duo’s political pact.

Mr Kamau Mweha, a Kigumo Constituency politician and a close ally of Mr Odinga, said the two leaders will visit the region in a bid to popularise the Building Bridges Initiative  that was formed following a political pact on March 9, 2018 between the President and the opposition chief.

Although he did not explain why the leaders postponed their meeting, Mr Mweha revealed to a local daily that they will embark on a vigorous tour of the region to help residents understand objectives of the handshake and correct misconceptions.

Gatanga MP Nduati Ngugi, who is allied to a faction supporting Mr Kenyatta and the pact, confirmed to the local daily that the President and Mr Odinga will tour the region.

Ruto has made numerous visits to the region, cementing ties with some key leaders in the process.

Pundits have associated the delayed tour with the growing popularity of Ruto in the region, speculating that the ground might be too hostile for Mr Kenyatta and Mr Odinga.

Mr James Kamau, a political analyst, said the two leaders could be buying time for the rebellion to simmer down.

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