The new political turn of events in Mt Kenya East that brings together Deputy President William Ruto’s supporters in the National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi’s camp has started painting a picture of a well-calculated move whose root can be traced to 2019.

In what could arguably be the new trick that will probably put DP in a tough test when picking his deputy in 2022, the supporters from the East of the mountain have now rolled up their sleeves and backed National Assembly speaker Justin Muturi as the region’s pacesetter.

The move has continued to raise the big question of whether the DP will use Muturi as their new scheme to play politics of interest in a bid to increase their bargaining power.

Before Muturi’s entry into the mix, the Central Kenya region had largely been seen to be leaning towards the ‘hustler’ movement that is led by Deputy President William Ruto.

Muturi’s gradual push to claim the region’s leadership now only makes it clear that there’s a possibility of the two working together in the upcoming general elections.

And it takes us back to 2019 where a section of Meru and Tharaka Nithi county leaders endorsed Muturi and asked Deputy President William Ruto to pick him as his deputy come 2022.

The leaders then led by Meru Senator Mithika Linturi who is a vocal supporter of Ruto expressed confidence that Muturi is up to the task owing to his loyalty and ability to perform as a politician.

MPs John Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South), Kirima Ngushine (Imenti Central), Mugambi Rindikiri(Buuri) and Gitonga Muruga of Tharaka called on DP to pick one of their own from Mt Kenya region as his number two after president Uhuru Kenyatta retires.

Inside sources say the leaders gave Ruto tough conditions for his presidential bid, insisting that one of them had to be picked as running mate.

“We will not support Ruto for free. We will sit down and choose between Muturi, Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki or Agriculture Cabinet Peter Munya for him to pick as his running mate in 2022,” Linturi told Church congregation at St Mathews AIPCA church in Imenti Central in June 2019.

Sources intimate that the new political calculation could be used by the lawmakers and other leaders from the region to demand their loyalty from the DP ahead of 2022.

“We will support Ruto but we are asking him to support us by picking a running mate from this region,” Tigania East MP Gichunge Kabeabea said.

Nominated MP Cecily Mbarire oiled the debate by openly asking Ruto to pick Muturi as his running mate in honour of a 2013 political deal.

But according to a political activist Alhaji Mwendia who is an ally of Kiraitu Murungi, the Tangatanga team’s invasion in Muturi’s camp is purely a malicious move meant to antagonize Jubilee even more.

“Tangatanga team only wants to divide Jubilee. We are aware that they are coming to Muturi’s camp with a mission of causing confusion so that Muturi is seen as a Tangatanga project,” Alhaji said.

Local pundits opine those chances are high that Ruto and Muturi will have to work together. That if Muturi decides to try his luck for the top seat, Ruto will lose momentum in Mt Kenya. They say it, therefore, means that Ruto has to stick to his ‘secret plan of picking Muturi as his deputy.’

“If Muturi runs for presidency, there is a likelihood that those supporting Ruto from the three counties will make about-turn to the speaker,” John Kirianki said.

However, North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood only wants the region to settle for the top seat in 2022.

“We will only take position two if we get short of number one because we are going for presidency when that time comes. But if Ruto or any other presidential candidate is willing to work with us we will have to discuss the matter conclusively,” Rahim said.

And in what looks like a prophecy, Speaker Muturi on Saturday, July 3, 202, announced his bid for the 2022 presidential contest. He made the announcement at his Rural home in Kanyuambora, Embu County.

“We must restore order and dignity in our country and this cannot be achieved when one is not number one.

“We must have a country that is ruled by discipline and order and am the only person who can do that if you place me to be number one,” Muturi said.

Deputy Speaker Meru Assembly Elius Murega, who is a staunch supporter of DP Ruto has also maintained that Mt Kenya East region needs to form the next government.

“Ruto needs to scratch back because this is the time for us to sit at the heart of the government,” Murega said.

Even as Muturi’s coronation continues to face criticism from a section of leaders especially from Central, the speaker’s stand remains firm with the foray of his self-declared bid to unite the whole Mt Kenya region amid distancing himself from being Rutos project.

“I am on my own. The only thing I am aware of is that elders gave me a mantle to be the region’s spokesperson. I am not anybody’s project,” Muturi was quoted as saying.