Machakos governor, Dr Alfred Mutua, on Monday announced that he will launch his presidential campaign in 2020.
Mutua is among several leaders, including Deputy President (DP) William Ruto who have announced their intention to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.
Others are Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula. Raila Odinga is also expected to be in the race even though he has not yet announced his plans.
“I will officially launch my CAMPAIGN to be the next PRESIDENT of Kenya in 2022. I will show Kenyans that it is possible for a child to be born in the villages, to dream, work hard with a pure heart and achieve his or her dream,” said Dr Mutua.
The Machakos County boss promised to offer Kenyans a new way “of looking at the world and doing things.”
The vocal governor made the announcement on his Twitter account on Monday in a series of posts reflecting on 2019.
“The year 2019 has been and will always be a year of ups and downs for Kenya. From the handshake, political stability and the BBI [Building Bridges Initiative], many infrastructural developments to politics of corruption and serious economic challenges, it has been a revealing year about ourselves and our aspirations. Kenyans have felt broke — business communities are hurting and the creation of jobs has been SLOW. The gap between the rich and the poor seems to be expanding. Financially, it has been tough,” said Mutua.
Recently, the governor shocked the country when he claimed that DP Ruto threatened his life supposedly angered by the Machakos leader’s criticism.
But the DP brushed off the claims despite Mutua recording a statement at a police station in Nairobi.
Mutua has been the governor of Machakos for two terms, during which he has projected himself as a visionary leader capable of dislodging Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as the Ukambani kingpin.
However, Kalonzo still remains popular despite being in the political cold following National Super Alliance’s loss in the 2017 general elections.
Mutua, the former Government Spokesman, faces an uphill task to convince Kenyans to elect him as President given the many names already being floated for the presidential race, chief among them DP Ruto.
However, the governor said he will also focus on delivering services to the people of Machakos in 2020. “In 2020. I plan to be RUTHLESS in implementing laws, regulations and getting services rendered to Wananchi properly. I will fight for the rights of the oppressed and ensure greedy people are put in their rightful places,” said Mutua.
