Uhuru's politics is about persuasion and inclusion

A  public rally at the Nyahururu DEB Primary School on Saturday, November 10, 2012, has been misrepresented to lie that Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta threatened central Kenya leaders who are not in The National Alliance (TNA).

During the tour of Laikipia County on that day, Mr Kenyatta never said all leaders in central Kenya should “join TNA or perish” as published by the Nation on Monday, November 12 and repeated by the The Standard On Saturday on November 17, 2012.

All media houses were at the function but, save for the ‘Nation’, all others “missed” that story. The Standard On Saturday interviewed a few of those who have seen an opportunity to throw mud at Mr Kenyatta.
The meeting was in public and though a lot has been published and broadcast on the outbursts of reactionary forces, no video evidence has come forth. Why can’t video evidence of this be produced if at all it was said? It cannot because it does not exist and the purported offensive line was never said.

For the record, the Deputy Prime Minister said Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni and Assistant mini
ster Nderitu Muriithi, who are members of the United Democratic Front (UDF), have a right to campaign for people and parties of their choice.

But Mr Kenyatta told them to stop spreading falsehoods that he cannot be elected President because of his ethnicity.
Anybody who has had casual contact with the Constitution enacted on August 4, 2010 knows the law has no room for discrimination on any Kenyan on the basis of race, religion and ethnicity, among others. Mr Kenyatta pointed out that, like all other Kenyans, he did not apply to be born a Kikuyu.

The DPM described Assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri as a friend, but pointed out that they had differed over political parties, and “agreed to disagree”. He, however, said it was Mr Kiunjuri’s right to be in a party of his choice. Presidential aspirants Martha Karua and Peter Kenneth, both of whom have reacted furiously over the lies, should stop boxing the wind over journalism gone rogue.

In all his public statements, Mr Kenyatta has consistently espoused the ideals of democracy, national cohesion and ethnic tolerance, some of the key attributes expected of our national leaders.

It is not in his nature to engage in utterances that alienate any politician or leaders supporting competing political parties or, indeed, any section of Kenyans on grounds of the choices they make in the exercise of their democratic rights outside the TNA.

Those who have made a career from harping at these false accusations should look themselves in the mirror and ask themselves why they foam at the mouth over a falsehood, a manufactured lie and a fantasy, a non-existent one at that.

Mr Kenyatta has asked Kenyans to join TNA and he will continue to do so. His effort to build a strong, united and national party has borne fruit and the sky is the limit.

This is in the belief that only such a party can bring Kenyans together irrespective of their geography, religion and community.
If such a party formed the Government, it would be able to serve Kenyans without the uncertainty and anxiety of fractious governments.

However, TNA is a party of believers and no one is coerced to join it. And the party was tried, tested and passed with flying colours during the September 17 by-elections.

Of all the parties that contested the repeat elections, it was the only one that held competitive nominations.
Those whose campaigns are flagging should pull up their socks and tell Kenyans what they are about instead of clutching at straws to throw mud at Mr Kenyatta.

The writer is Communications Director Office of the Deputy Prime Minister