A section of Jubilee leaders has defied calls by President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop 2022 elections debate.

Addressing mourners during the funeral service for multiparty democracy crusader Kenneth Matiba in Murang’a Kenyatta urged politicians to focus on development agenda insisting his deal with NASA leader Raila Odinga was beyond 2022."I am surprised that when we meet with Raila and shake hands stories (have) started about 2022. As Raila has said, there will be 2022, there will be 2027, there will be 2020 until 2030. Let us leave these politics aside. Let us focus on what matters to our people,” the President stated.

Jubilee leaders ignore Uhuru's call to stop 2022 elections debate However, Jubilee leaders drawn from Central and Rift Valley ignored Kenyatta's call and backedDeputy President William Ruto's 2022 ambitions.

Led by Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho and Kiharu legislator Nyoro Ndindi, the two insisted that Central people were solidly behind Ruto."The people of Kikuyu have no debt, as many have been insisting. Those peddling the narrative want to inspire that kind of fear, but our mind is clear, the only debt we have is love and respect because you are capable to seek votes by yourself and we have no doubt in your 2022 plans," Ndindi said.

William Ruto opposes calls for a referendum Meanwhile, Ruto has opposed calls for a referendum, which is being pushed by the Opposition leader and ODM legislators.

READ ALSO: Uhuru-Raila unity team unveiled ahead of Uhuru's key event