Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Seth Mwaniki @MwanikiM

Kieni MP Kanini Kega yesterday warned Mt Kenya leaders against splitting the region into political blocks of Mt Kenya East and West.

Kega, who is also the Budget and Appropriations Committee chairperson, said there was nothing wrong with the ongoing succession debate in the region but told politicians to be careful lest they divide the people.

“What is going on is quite in order because this region has over six million votes. It would be hypocritical for anyone to say that these votes can be inherited by anyone without negotiation because what we need is someone acceptable to all,” Kanini said.

Speaking at Kiambogo Primary School in his constituency, Kanini said President Uhuru Kenyatta remains the spokesman of the region and his word counts.

He cautioned leaders against entertaining politicians who, he said, were out to divide them, adding that the region would be stronger if it is united.

Kanini was speaking a day after a group of Mt Kenya region governors and other politicians distanced themselves from the coronation of National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as the region’s spokesperson.

Although the group, which included, Mwangi Wa Iria (Murang’a), Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri) which had met at a city hotel declined to discuss the matter, Wa Iria said the Mukuruwe wa Nyagathanga shrine, where Muturi was coronated, would be cleansed by elders. 

Also present during the meeting were former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo and former MPs Jamleck Kamau, Dennis Waweru, Peter Weru and Ndung’u Githinji.

Governors Kiraitu Murungi (Meru), Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi) and Martin Wambora (Embu) have welcomed Muturi’s coronation describing him as best suited to lead the region.

By-election loss

At the same time, Kanini asked the top Jubilee leadership to explain why the party lost in the just concluded by-elections in Juja constituency and Rurii Ward.

He said Jubilee secretary-general Raphael Tuju and other officials must explain why the party lost and come up with a strategy of winning future by-elections.

Kanini said the loss in the two by-elections was due to local politics, saying the party was still popular nationally.

“Jubilee Party is not on its deathbed. But what is needed is revamping and improvement on internal democracy which is a bone of contention at the moment,” Kanini said.

Last week, Tuju said the party would take stock of what transpired in the by-elections, learn from the experience and take appropriate action.

“To our supporters and members, a Swahili saying asiye kubali kushindwa sio mshindani is apt at this moment,” said Tuju.

In Juja, Jubilee candidate Susan Waititu lost to People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) candidate George Koimburi who got 12,159 votes against her 5,764 votes, while in Rurii ward, United Democratic Party (UDA) candidate Francis Muraya won with 4,178 votes against Jubilee’s Peter Thinji who got 3,051 votes. 

People’s Empowerment Party and UDA are associated with Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and Deputy President William Ruto, respectively.