Controversial businessman and political strategist Jimmy Wanjigi has intensified political activities in Central Kenya as he prepares to launch his presidential bid.
Under the guise of Mumbi Foundation, Wanjigi has organised daily town hall meetings where his trainers are meeting local people and introducing them to Wanjigi’s agenda.
The latest such meeting was held today (Thursday) in Maragua, Murang’a county where a trainer said Wanjigi was the one behind the Raila-Uhuru handshake that resulted in the BBI process.
They discussed the possibility of Wanjigi running for president if Raila does not and should Raila run, Wanjigi will be the running mate.
The meeting also discussed the benefits of BBI and the need for the local people to support it and also discussed Deputy President William Ruto’s leadership that was dismissed as bad.
A trainer at the meeting Stanely Kamau discussed the importance of making Wanjigi Network vibrant in every village and polling station and also to invite him for a church harambee.
The Maragua meeting came days after similar town hall meetings were held in Gatanga where the same Wanjigi for president gospel was preached.
Wanjigi, a shrewd businessman and political strategist is joining a crowded race for the president after working behind the scenes to support presidential candidates.
He has claimed to have played a key role in bringing President Uhuru and his Deputy together before the 2013 presidential elections but had a spectacular fall out with Uhuru in 2017.
Wanjigi is said to have been behind the ODM leader Raila Odinga’s campaign strategy in 2017 under the National Super Alliance (NASA) leading to his fall out with Uhuru.
Political observers say the rising of many presidential candidates from the region is helping cut the clout Ruto has been enjoying when he was the only presidential candidate on the scene.
The narrative in Central Kenya has changed as the people are now talking about local people vying for the presidency rather than outsiders.
Prof Herman Manyora a political scientist said the only way to ensure Ruto does not win is to lock him out of the Mt Kenya voting block.
