Why Mt Kenya Leaders are wary about Change of Guard

As 2022 succession battle gains momentum in Kenya, leaders drawn from Mt Kenya region have become more concerned of their political future and survival. Mt Kenya region is predominantly occupied by the agikuyu, ameru and aembu communities.

The region has produced three out of the four presidents. It boosts about the tyranny of numbers, thus making the region a battle ground for leaders from other region seeking to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta. 

Central alone produced Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta as presidents. The only other Kenyan president drawn out of the region was Daniel Arap Moi.

In the recent past, the region has gone against the tide of State operatives as a sign of revolt over what they term as negligence from the government, despite electing one of their own to the much coveted seat. 

Deputy President William Ruto has taken advantage of the brewing rebellion through making serious political forays in Central and its vicinity. ODM leader Raila Odinga is also not leaving anything to chance as he makes his fifth presidential stab.

The failure of BBI was a huge blow to the doyen of opposition politics. Raila suffered a major setback when the appellate court thrashed the BBI proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill. The verdict that was issued by the Court of Appeal also sent the Okoa Kenya Alliance (OKA) to the drawing board.

OKA Principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi have insisted that they will be on the presidential ballot. However, multiple sources confide that Kalonzo has been secretly meeting with Raila in what appears as a looming political amalgamation to countenance the surging influence of William Ruto.

Emerging Concerns

Leaders from Central region have been holding numerous meetings pinpointing various issues that ought to be addressed by the next government. 

Political Party leaders from Central have been meeting to strategize on how to avoid a split in the regional votes. Martha Karua (Narc Kenya), Moses Kuria (Chama Cha Kazi) and Mwangi Kiunjuri (The Service Party) held a meeting on August and addressed various issues affecting Central people.

The subsequent series of meetings have attempted to cut across the political divide and bring together political nemeses with the sole agenda of unifying the region ahead of 2022 general elections.

Moses Kuria was recently quoted by the media stating that they will redeem their alleged 40% votes with the deputy presidency and nothing short of that, or else the presidential aspirants should forget about Mt Kenya votes.

The firebrand Gatundu South legislator reiterated his earlier remarks that he will not be on the ballot and instead he will concentrate in strengthening his party to avoid the pitfalls and untold misery that befell Jubilee Party.

Kirinyaga governor Ann Waiguru, a diehard supporter of Jubilee, recently alluded that she would not be seeking reelection on Jubilee ticket owing to its waning popularity in her county. The first term governor stated that she was still consulting on which Party she will be seeking her reelection.

The dwindling fortunes of Jubilee have made the region explore on other political parties that might be in consonance with the local electorates.