Mount Kenya Foundation Settles on Raila as Uhuru's Preferred Successor

The Mount Kenya Foundation (MKF) has settled on ODM leader Raila Odinga as their preferred candidate to succeed President Kenyatta next year.

The foundation will hold a meeting at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on Wednesday to formally endorse Odinga’s 2022 presidential bid.

During the meeting, leaders will address and discuss pertinent issues touching on the Mount Kenya region, according to an official invite sent by the group's Director of Communication Joe Murimi.

MKF is an elite club of wealthy businessmen drawn from the Mount Kenya region and is known to influence presidential elections by creating a financial war chest for its preferred candidate.

Some of its members include Equity Bank founder Peter Munga, who is the foundation’s chairman, media mogul SK Macharia, President Kenyatta’s uncle George Muhoho, former KRA chief Michael Waweru, businessman Pius Ngugi, and Equity Group CEO James Mwangi, among others. 

MKF began a search for a presidential candidate in September and invited Odinga and One Kenya Alliance leaders Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Gideon Moi (Kanu), and Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya) for interviews at Safari Park.

Raila is expected to officially declare his 2022 State Hose bid at the national Azimio La Umoja convention scheduled for December 10th at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.

He will be giving his fifth stab at the presidency, having come short in 1997, 2007, 2013, and 2017.