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After the swearing-in of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Friday, there was a hushed feeling of defiance in the areas of the Mt Kenya region signalling their disappointment over the ousting of former officeholder Rigathi Gachagua.

During the entire duration of Gachagua’s impeachment process, there was a revival in the region as old vernacular songs heavy with messages of self-reflection and calling for unity rent the air- but the climax was over the weekend.

Despite President William Ruto appeasing the region by ensuring the second in-command seat is still occupied by one of their own, the residents appear to be unhappy with the new arrangement and a feeling of betrayal has crept in.

Though the region was praised for exhibiting political maturity by remaining calm even when their top politician was under trial, these songs, which are packed with proverbs and figurative language could be interpreted as a form of protest.

Under previous other governments, such songs have been banned and their composers put behind bars on the assumption that they were inciting the region against the leadership. Some of these songs have in recent times been widely associated with the adherents of the outlawed Mungiki sect.

In public gatherings, especially in clubs that host live bands, the charged crowd can now be heard singing along to the music, songs which have been popular since the 60s and 70s, with videos of revellers enjoying the music then being shared online.

Morning vote

Typical of all African culture, singing in the region is a common practice with popular musicians composing songs to suit a prevailing political situation- either to praise or to condemn those who are in power. During the campaign period leading to the 2022 general election, themed songs were popular in political meetings in every part of the region to mobilise the residents to support and vote for leaders in United Democratic Alliance (UDA). 

One popular song, Tugokira tene tugathure Ruto, (We shall wake up early in the morning to vote for Ruto) was sung in almost all the counties during the campaign period.

Interestingly, two years later, the song has been used to create online memes depicting the displeasure of the community in the government.

One Friday during a Kameme FM mid-morning show, musician Thuku wa Thuo whose song released in 2000, Kirinyaga ya Itungati, has re-gained popularity. He has defended the song saying the message resonates with what the community feels about the top leadership. In one of the verses Thuo says that Kenya belongs to the itungati (natives) and not the foreigners he figuratively refers to as muka mugeni (new wife).

“The spirit behind the song determines the packaging of the message. In the chorus, I sing, why are you asking who is the owner of Kirinyaga (Mt Kenya). When I released the song, I was mirroring the feeling among the Mau Mau fighters who were subjected torture and lost their land to the colonialists,” Thuo said.

Thuo, who is also a pastor, said that currently the song has remained relevant because, even if the colonial masters left, the country could still be under neo-colonialism.

“Muka Mugeni in the song refers to Queen Elizabeth (then reigning in the UK) while Itungati meant the sons of the soil who are the owners of Kirinyaga,” the singer explained.

He said his songs contained deep messages inspired by the spirit of Mau Mau freedom fighters to ensure that his fans research on them to gain more understanding of the topic he addresses.

“No media house has been bold enough to play my music. They are associated with certain groups of people and that’s how the majority of my songs never saw the light of the day. Even with the advent of video CDs, I was selling my music in secrecy. Thanks to the Internet, it is being sung openly,” he said.

Pastor Thuo said his song rhymes with the spirit hovering among the Mt Kenya community over the current developments in the country that have not spared them.

 “When people sing a song that relates to their feelings, the more that feeling gets ingrained in them as a community. The people who are singing my songs are not happy with all that is happening and the song is upholding that emotion. The more they sing in a crowd the more they become charged,” he stated.

After Gachagua’s ouster, a section of the Central Kenya residents who have turned hostile to the Kenya Kwanza administration want the elected leaders to fast-track policies that will steer the country towards economic stability.

Breaking away

They blame the administration, which they voted for overwhelmingly, for being neglectful about their agriculture and businesses mainly through the introduction of taxes that have led to dwindling economic fortunes.

The region, which first showed open defiance against Ruto five months ago during the Limuru III meeting in May, appears to be breaking away from the UDA with the firing of Gachagua just fuelling a deep-rooted hatred.

The majority of the residents wonder why the government would, in a record of less than two months’, purge Gachagua out of the office while the tea, coffee and milk sectors remain unattended two years down the line.

The attendees of the Limuru meeting formed Haki Coalition, which political observers say could be fashioned into an opposition outfit to advance the interests of the mountain region.

With Gachagua being out of government, he is likely to revive his call for ‘One Man One Vote One Shilling’ formula for sharing revenue.

Gachagua is most likely going to join forces with other anti-Ruto politicians including Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and Jubilee party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni to establish a political alliance to compete against the Kenya Kwanza coalition.