Time is up! This seems to what is in Speaker Justin Muturi's mind as the election date nears.
By: Dan, George & Joseph
Worth Noting:
- “I want to be the President so that I can achieve my vision of transforming Kenya for the betterment of all Kenyans,” Muturi said.
- “I am clear about what I want to achieve. I can’t change Kenya while number two,” the speaker said, adding that, “No one goes into a competition to be number two, and that’s why I’m urging you to support me to be number one.”
- “I will be quite engaged in a busy year trying to serve the country as we navigate through various law-making processes for the people of Kenya. I take this job seriously and for me, that’s my immediate engagement. I wake up every morning for this,” Muturi said.
Speaker Muturi emerging as Kenya’s political Supremo taking over mantle from Uhuru
A white smoke emerges as Mt. Kenya region is silently and tactically tilting towards National Assembly Speaker Justin Bedan (JB) Njoka Muturi. This is becoming the springboard that JB is using as charity begins at home. The region which enjoys over eight million votes and over two trillion economies has enough numbers and resources to give a candidate a competitive advantage over all competitors across the country.
As David was in Saul’s Band only later to succeed him in leadership over Israel, Speaker Muturi a close ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta understands the lines, the lyrics, tunes and the rhythm of Kenyan politics.
The audacity of the mountains political voice which come from over eight million voting basket and immense economic power with capacity to run a series of presidential elections without wavering post any candidate backed by the region to the league of the legendary Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party leader Raila Odinga and the indefatigable Deputy President William Ruto.
Muturi possess a character that many may not decipher at this stage. As founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta perceived one of his young Presidential Press Service (PPS) officers Mr. Lee Njiru as a boy from Runyenjes in Embu (Kahii ka Runyenje) so are many people of archaic political school of thought perceiving Muturi as passing wind.
Lee lasted at the communication throne during Mzee Jomo’s government, transitioned to former President Daniel Arap Moi’s Presidential Press Service (PPS) and his loyalty kept him for over 44 years at the helm of Presidential communication unit.
Njiru continued to serve as Moi’s Press Secretary till Mzee Moi passed on to glory. This loyalty is a trait harboured by the Speaker.
Democratic Party of Kenya (DP) Picks Speaker Muturi as 2022 Presidential Candidate
The Democratic Party of Kenya (DP) on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 picked National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as the party’s flag bearer ahead of the August 2022 general polls.
The occasion was graced by DP delegates from Nairobi City County and 10 Mount Kenya Counties who bestowed Speaker Muturi honour to be their party’s flag bearer.
This came after serious negotiations between delegates of the party that was founded by among other the third president of republic of Kenya Mwai Kibaki, former minister and prominent businessman late Njenga Karume, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s uncle George Muhoho, long serving DP senior official Joseph Munyao and late John Keen prominent Maa community leader who served as an assistant minister for agriculture and member of parliament (MP) for Kajiado North Constituency.
The DP party’s delegates said, “We have deliberated seriously about what should happen, and we are glad to inform you that we as delegates from Mt Kenya region have conducted serious vetting as to who should lead Mt. Kenya and Kenya as a whole.”
“We have discussed and resolved as the Democratic Party of Kenya to support none other than Justin Bedan (JB) Njoka Muturi as DP’s presidential candidate,” the leaders stated.
The delegates said they Muturi’s clean record spanning for decades of leadership and his mantra of “order, integrity and prosperity” were the reasons that made them settle on him.
His trustworthy character is another driving force they hold will make the speaker to clinch this nation’s mantle.
“We believe that he is going all through to the ballot box, since he is a man you can trust.” the leaders stated.
While accepting the party leadership role, JB as commonly known said Some Members of Parliament have been calling on him to join certain parties which he doesn’t know the bases. He however declined categorically, stating that he will not do that.
“I will not join parties which I don’t know the bases and which when it comes to responsibilities allocation, they consider their inner circles only,” the speaker said.
Muturi saw beyond the mountain, joined presidential race
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi on Saturday July 4, 2021 at his rural Kanyuambora home in Mbeere North, Embu County declared his interest in vying for the presidency in the 2022 General Election.
Speaker Muturi who had a fellowship with over 200 members of the Clergy drawn from the Pentecostal churches in Embu County said he is committed to restore the country to factory setting where people respected God as well as country laws.
Speaker Muturi decried how the country has veered off the good old days when people could get services from public offices without unnecessary handles and expenses.
“A few years back, when you had a dispute with someone or your title deed had an issue, you would go to the District Lands Officer, and they would sort out the matter expeditiously. Today, if you did the same thing with the land’s office, you will actually be giving someone a tip to acquire your piece of land”, Muturi lamented.
The Speaker said the lamentations shall however not last, as he is seeking to fix the clutter by restoring discipline and order in the management of government resources in order to grow the country.
“I want to be the President so that I can achieve my vision of transforming Kenya for the betterment of all Kenyans,” Muturi said.
Muturi said this as he declared that he will be on ballot come next year, saying he could only realise his vision of restoring Kenya back to its glory by being the head of state. He said he was grateful for the elders finding it to install him as the Mt. Kenya Region Spokesman.
He however said upon climbing on top of the mountain and looking over he saw a bigger need of uniting Kenyans beyond the confines of Mt. Kenya region and its surrounding, “Being a spokesman is not enough. I also want to be the President.”
As the Head of the Republic of Kenya, Muturi has identified what he would prioritise which is revisiting the national values and ethos.
“What this country needs is order and to revisit the national values and ethos that the builders of this nation envisaged.”
As he requested the members of clergy to pray incessantly so that in the coming general elections, God may raise transformative leaders whose calling is to serve with inherent patriotism.
Urging them to offer him the divine backing as he embarks to pursuing his ambition of becoming the fifth President of Kenya after President Uhuru Kenyatta, Muturi said the values he is envisioning to restore are biblical.
“Indeed, these values we espouse and which are enshrined in our Constitution are biblical. This is what inspires my desire to see change in this country”, he said.
Mr. Muturi while outlining his agenda and desire to fix our country, he said he can only achieve his vision as the President and not Deputy to anyone.
“I am clear about what I want to achieve. I can’t change Kenya while number two,” the speaker said, he added that, “No one goes into a competition to be number two, and that’s why I’m urging you to support me to be number one.”
Speaker Muturi disclosed that some regional leaders had approached him with advice to settle for the second in command, but he has vehemently been turning their advice down.
Muturi’s Coronation at the Mukurwe Wa Nyagathanga Shrine in Murang’a County
The National Assembly Speaker was in May 2021 crowned as Mt. Kenya region spokesperson in a special ceremony at the Mukurwe Wa Nyagathanga Shrine in Murang’a County, a place where the Agikuyu people consider as their Garden of Eden.
Upon his coronation Muturi said in the weeks and months ahead, he will strive to put the region’s leaders together to discuss the issues affecting the people, irrespective of their political persuasions, a mission he embarked on religiously.
“And I mean all economic, religious, social and political leaders, including men and women, young and old, from all corners of Mt Kenya,” Muturi said.
Muturi has however been keen on his primary job of National Assembly speaker and has lived to his promise after his crowning where he promised to remain faithful to his speaker’s duties.
“I will be quite engaged in a busy year trying to serve the country as we navigate through various law-making processes for the people of Kenya. I take this job seriously and for me, that’s my immediate engagement. I wake up every morning for this,” Muturi said after the coronation.
Even though the political road is bumpy and one cannot lack opposers, Muturi has largely been successive in partaking his national duties, and he has been traversing the region meeting leaders and attending church services in his bid to live to his role as Mt. Kenya spokesman.
Muturi the National Assembly Speaker
Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi (popularly known as JB) (born 28 April 1966) is the seventh Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, in office since 2013. He is the first Speaker to serve following the reestablishment of a bicameral Parliament, as mandated by the 2010 Constitution.
His Loyalty and friendship to the elected people’s representative have seen him unanimously endorsed by majority parliamentarians to clinch the National Assembly Speaker’s seat time and again.
Speaker Muturi’s balanced and fair treatment to all MPs has created a good rapport between the Speakers panel and parliamentarians of all political shades.
Muturi has already booked a slot in Kenya’s history as the first National Assembly Speaker under constitution 2010.
From a religious perspective, Speaker Muturi embraced a request from the late Kiambaa MP Paul Koinange to create some kitty for annual national prayer breakfast.
This aspect puts him as a practicing man of faith who believes in seeking the divine intervention in running the country’s affairs.
His action and deeds are in line with the good book teachings in James 2:26 “Faith Without Action is Dead” and in line with Kenya’s desire to have a man after the heart of God at the throne Speaker Muturi fits the bill.
As Koitalel Arap Samoei an Orkoiyot, the supreme chief of the Nandi people of Kenya who was reportedly close to his father and displayed the greatest ability in understanding prophetic signs, Muturi is close to power and understands Kenya’s political prophecies.
Muturi possess unmatched legal, legislative and management prowess having served as an officer of judiciary where he practiced as a magistrate, as a legislator having been elected as Member of Parliament and as a manager having and currently serving as a Speaker.
Muturi is the third highest government after President and his Deputy according Kenya’s constitution pecking order.
As Kenyans are yearning for bottom-up approach in economic and social order, Muturi has demonstrated this practically starting from the lowest judicial rank hence understanding the common mwananchi’s predicaments.
His understanding of the people’s needs made him step down from the lucrative judicial comfort and seek their mandate to represent them at the legislative arm.
Later his colleagues saw it wise to give him more responsibility of putting the house to order, a role he is currently serving.
As they say it’s in times of crises that good leaders emerge, Speaker Muturi is emerging as the man of moment to take over the Mt. Kenya leadership baton after President Kenyatta retires.
It’s worth noting that, a Mt. Kenya region leader is a national leader owing to its immense social, economic and political power.
In fact if you have the over eight million votes in your basket with additional 2 million votes you can easily become the democratically elected President of the Republic of Kenya.
JB to effectively clinch the presidency in August 9, 2022; will require a Deputy who can bring only two million votes on the table and the deal will be sealed.
Muturi’s relationship with Uhuru
Speaker Muturi was first elected as a member of the Kenya African National Union to represent Siakago Constituency in Parliament following a 1999 byelection. He won reelection in 2002 and served as opposition chief whip and chair of the Public Investment Committee during the 10th Parliament.
He was elected KANU National Organising Secretary in Nov 2008 and was the PNU constitution committee chairman during the national constitutional talks from 2008–2010. In April 2011, he was appointed the chairman of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), a civil society group that deals with democracy issues in multi-party politics.
With the 2022 general elections heating up in the country, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, who was crowned the new Mt Kenya spokesman last year, brought to light his own relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Both of them have been close to one another since their days in KANU party. They are both members of the ruling party Jubilee, headed by President Uhuru
Muturi who eyes to succeed Uhuru says that he is interested in the Presidential position with his main goal being; to bring new leadership system, different from the current one, promising to deliver equity in all parts of the country, fairness and social justice.
“It is equity, social justice and fairness. I admit that what is good to me should be good to others, where citizens will enjoy equal services regardless of their status,” JB tweeted.
Danson is a communication expert, consultant, critical thinker, political strategists and social commentator.
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