Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has reacted after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Mt Kenya governors skipped his football tournament event, despite being invited.
The event which entailed the launch of the MK Peace Cup Tournament was held at the Kinoru Stadium in Meru County.
“The event was simply amazing,” Kuria reacted to news that the second in command had skipped his event.
In a statement on X moments after the event was concluded, Kuria insinuated that the leaders had skipped his event due to hate and contempt they had for him.
“If hate and madharau from leaders was an export, Kenya would be very rich,” he stated.
A majority of the 66 MP from Mt Kenya did not attend the tournament, with a majority sending apologies.
The only MPs who attended Kuria’s event include Njoke Njeri (Embu), Rahim Dawood (Imenti North) and Benard Muriuki (Mbeere South).
Kuria speaks
Speaking during the event, Kuria noted that the tournaments are aimed at fighting drug abuse and illicit brew which he termed a national emergency in the Mt Kenya region.
“It started as a dream and it has become a reality. The games will be played up to group 16, then quarter and finals will be on June 2 at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru county,” Kuria as quoted by a local daily.
“These tournaments are aimed to help fight drug abuse and illicit brew which is now a national emergency in the region. It is not political and pleaded with the leaders to put politics aside.”
The outspoken CS said that he would ensure that the tournament went on, even if it meant walking alone after Mt Kenya regions seemed to snub him.
“It doesn’t matter how many will fight with me. President William Ruto has secured jobs abroad, others through the affordable housing project and industrial parks but games also play a key role in reforming and moulding a society,” he said.
In the recent past, though not openly, Kuria has seemed to weigh his political might in the Mt Kenya region against Gachagua, something that has created political tensions between the two.
The CS, during the event, played it ‘cool’ to underplay reports of the tensions, saying, “I bring greetings from the DP who could not attend”.
In January, the CS who has been a political nemesis of Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga, attended the memorial service of Mzee Jaramogi Oginga Odinga held at the Ofafa Memorial Hall in Kisumu.
In what looked like a new dalliance between Raila and Kuria, the CS received a warm welcome from the guests as he exchanged greetings Raila, Kisumu governor Anyang Nyong’o and other leaders.
This could have escalated the bad blood between him and Gachagua, who is one of the biggest critics of the opposition leader.
Gachagua could have seen the move by Kuria as a form of “betrayal”, by being friends with his enemies.
Still, the two leaders, Gachagua and Kuria, have been fighting a silent battle for supremacy in the Mt Kenya region.
