Uhuru cancels Ukambani tour over Covid surge fears

The fears that Uhuru’s tour in Ukambani may lead to spread of Covid-19 has led to it being cancelled.

The two-day visit was planned to commence on Tuesday.

He had visited Kitui on June 25. Earlier, he met Ukambani leaders in State House when he assured the Lower Eastern leaders of his support to the Nasa coalition.

Before today’s cancellation, Uhuru’s Ukambani meeting was scheduled for June 28 and 29. The president was to tour Machakos and Makueni on June 28 and Kitui on June 29.

Kitui County Assembly had last week adjourned the House to join the President in his tour of the region. This was during the first visit which was slated for June 28. This came amid serious pull and push between MCAs who supported the adjournment and those who were against it in a chilly afternoon sitting that was presided over by  the temporary Speaker Mary Ndumbu.

Some of the projects that will not be inspected by the president following the cancellation of his trip are the revival of Wikithuki irrigation project in Mwingi North, coal mining in Mwingi and Kitui regions and various road projects in Lower Eastern.

Both ODM leader and Kalonzo have indicated on plans to revive Nasa coalition.  However, Amani National Congress leader Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi called it quits.

Isaac Ruto of Chama Cha Mashinani has since joined Deputy President Dr Willliam Ruto. Analysts say that Nasa is weak given the loss it suffered after both Ruto and Mudavadi left the Pentagon.

Nasa’s stability encountered headwinds after the 2018 handshake between the president and former prime minister.

By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT