Embattled Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni clarified the sponsorship of the Limuru 3 conference held on May 17, 2024. Speaking on a local TV station on May 29, 2024, Kioni, the former Ndaragwa Member of Parliament, firmly stated that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua did not fund the political gathering.
This statement was aimed at dispelling rumors and speculations surrounding the financial backing of the event.
“He did not. He may have desired but he did not,” Kioni responded to a question on DP Gachagua’s involvement.
According to Kioni, the much anticipated Limuru 3 conference was self-sponsored. He argued that the organisers of the event and attendees used their resources to make it a success.
“It was not sponsored by anybody, it was a self-sponsored Limuru 3 unlike in the past. People used their own resources and wanted to speak it out themselves,” Kioni insisted.
“There are many people who would have desired to fund it due to the success. you have seen Moses Kuria ranting all over, so there are so many people who want to be part of that Limuru 3 now that they have seen the success.”
However, Kioni lamented that some individuals, including businessmen from the Mt. Kenya region, promised to support the event but failed to honor their pledges.
Impact of Limuru 3 Conference
Kioni lauded the leaders who attended the event, including some from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), such as Gathoni Wamuchomba. He opined that the meeting sent a clear warning about diluting UDA’s influence in the Mt. Kenya region.
Kioni further noted that UDA’s wave would diminish in the upcoming polls due to punitive measures introduced by President William Ruto’s administration. He emphasized that these measures would likely lead to a decline in UDA’s popularity and effectiveness in the region.
“I want to tell you here that UDA is over in the mountain whether they do grassroots elections or fail to hold them. Those who wish to run will vie on different parties even Ruto himself will not run on UDA,” Kioni opined.
During the Limuru 3 meeting, the leaders settled on former President Uhuru Kenyatta as the Mt Kenya leader. Defending Uhuru’s selection, Kioni disclosed that Uhuru was picked because of the respect he commands across the political and cultural leadership of the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.
However, he clarified that the former Head of State did not offer himself for the position.
“If you look at the traditional leadership, there may be division. However, people respect Uhuru. Politicians have various opinions but people respect him (Uhuru).
“He has already left politics and we want him to sit with us and discuss our issues. He has already become a President and our leader, why wouldn’t we give him the position?” he posed.
