President Kenyatta's Allies Thwart Moses Kuria's Plan to Resign as Gatundu South MP

Two of President Kenyatta's allies reportedly blocked Moses Kuria's plan to step down as Gatundu South Member of Parliament.

The Star reports that Kuria was set to tender his resignation to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi on Thursday following outrage about his claim that President Kenyatta has neglected Mt. Kenya region.

The publication says Kuria, however, changed his mind after meetings with former Jubilee vice-chairperson David Murathe and Deputy Chief of Staff at the office of the President, Njee Muturi.

Murathe allegedly convinced Kuria to ditch the plan in a meeting that lasted several hours on Tuesday night before another meeting with Muturi.

On Thursday evening, the Star reported that Kuria had relinquished his position but Kuria denied the report during a press briefing at Parliament buildings.

Addressing reporters, Kuria said he has been receiving death threats since his criticism of President Kenyatta on New Year Eve.

“I have continued to receive a barrage of personalized attacks from people with personal and political scores to settle with me. Whereas I have no problem with politicians taking the opportunity to revive their dead or collapsing political careers," said Kuria adding that he has reported the threats to the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti.

“I trust that this will put an end to the subtle and not too subtle threats to my life from opportunists details of which I shared with DCI George Kinoti."

He also accused opportunists of trying to create a rift between him and the President, stating that his relationship with Kenyatta is "excellent."

“I am troubled that they are doing it in a manner that is designed to create a rift between myself and the President with whom I enjoy excellent relations and who is indeed one of the 72,000 voters from Gatundu South who are defacto employers.