Julie Gichuru (left) and Caroline Mutoko with President Uhuru Kenyatta at a recent event. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM
It’s almost the last bent in the race to pick the next CEO for Kenya, and as candidates continue with their campaigns, the electorate is slowly picking sides between the ruling Jubilee Party and the National Super Alliance (NASA).
While others are doing it silently for fear of retribution, others have opted to go public, perhaps for them to go on record for reasons well known to them.
One who has chosen the latter route is newscaster Julie Gichuru whose decision recently put her on the spot. She openly declared her endorsement for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reelection bid.
Gichuru took to social media to list her reasons for going with Jubilee, something that was not taken very well by some of her followers who considered her a brand and therefore shouldn’t take sides.
“Totally inspirational evening with President Uhuru Kenyatta as we gathered to support his re-election bid,” the renown journalist said on Instagram.
“Caroline Mutoko shared amazing audio from his 2002 campaigns, his focus even then was a united Kenya, peace, movement from absolute centralised power to a devolved system and free education.” she added.
“Thank you to all those who made time and to so many more who are supporting the campaign via mobile money.” She added.
“We must believe in something and I believe in one Kenya, I believe in progress and strong effective partnerships to actualise development.
“I believe in each of us exercising our individual rights to vote, and I believe in respecting that right and loving you as my Kenyan brother or sister whatever the outcome.
“I believe in working together to make this nation rise to great heights of progress and prosperity for all. Wherever you stand politically, God bless you and God bless Kenya. Twende mbele pamoja.” She said borrowing from her favourite party’s slogan.
A section of Kenyans hopped on the comment section to air their discontent with some claiming she has been paid while others accused her of tribalism.
This forced the former Citizen TV employee to defend herself, denying that she’s choosing Uhuru Kenyatta just because he’s Kikuyu. In fact, she went as far as saying she is barely Kikuyu.
“I will also speak to the issue of tribalism, it is very easy for us to assume or always attribute tribalism to every vote,” she said.
“While some people will vote based on tribe, my vote over close to two decades of voting has moved between tribes and is always based on what I believe in. I am half Asian Kenyan and half Kikuyu. On my Kikuyu side we also have Kamba blood. It is widely argued and believed that we also have Maasai heritage.
“It is very easy and convenient to attribute my stand to tribe, but it is also an ill-informed and malicious assumption that is wrong. I understand that we have a long way to grow, but I believe we will evolve. I accept your diverse views (not malicious attacks or insults – wale washindwe) but ultimately our role is to exercise our vote and move on to support the winner to make Kenya progress even further.
“We have a lot of re-educating to do, but learn this if nothing else, at leadership level people across the political divide will sit, engage and we will even laugh about social media comments, while you guys are busy throwing digital stones at each other. Stop it. It is inane and you are not stupid, are you?” She posed.
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