Former Minister of Finance, Uhuru Kenyatta, spent time in Lamu over the weekend fundraising in his bid to become Kenya‘s next president. He resigned soon after the International Criminal Court at the Hague (ICC) accused him of playing a role in inciting the 2007 post election violence that resulted in the death of thousands of innocents. Still the accession to guilt doesn’t seem to be stopping him from running for president.
In his last attempt at election into office, Uhuru, the son of Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, reportedly dumped thousands of dollars worth Kenya shillings from his helicopter, which fluttered like confetti onto potential voters below. The scramble for the paper bills alone apparently caused fisticuffs.
Forbes Magazine‘s Africa 2011 edition ranked Uhuru Kenyatta number 26 among their list of the continents 40 top richest individuals. According to Forbes, he owns at least 500,000 acres of “prime land” spread across Kenya. The land was acquired by his father in the late 1960s and 1970s thanks largely to funds provided by the World Bank.
When not campaigning, Kenyatta whizzed around in his private helicopter to inspect the site of the proposed Lamu Super Port at Magagoni, fifteen kilometers north of Lamu, a UNESCO world heritage site. Locals also reported seeing his helicopter land on Pate island, where a Chinese company plans to drill for natural gas.
He spent part of Sunday playing football with the local soccer team. Kenyatta, who arrived in Lamu Friday with an entourage of over a dozen body guards, stayed at the casually swank Peponi Hotel.
Kenya’s next presidential election is now slated for March 4, 2013 – but that could change.
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