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In less than a year to the general elections, calls to have vote-rich Mt Kenya region unite for a formidable bargaining power in succession politics have intensified.

As President Uhuru Kenyatta retires after the August 9, 2022 elections, leaders from the region that enjoys over 5 million votes fear that the mountain will be left floating if political power hopefuls fail to agree on the way forward.

Already, a bid to unite the region has been initiated by Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua, Chama Cha Kazi party leader Moses Kuria and his The Service Party (TSP) counterpart Mwangi Kiunjuri, a move that has elicited mixed reactions among political players.

For the mountain to get off the hook of political confusion, Thika MP Patrick Wainaina insisted on the need to have Mt Kenya affiliated political parties form alliances with other parties to clinch presidency.

With a united region that comprises the counties of Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Meru, Nyandarua, Embu, Laikipia parts of Nakuru and Tharaka Nithi, Wainaina who spoke in Thika town pointed out that the inter-parties unison will have a strong bargaining power enabling the region to remain in successful governments.

The independent MP further insisted on the need for the mountain affiliated parties to form an alliance to have the requisite political numbers that will earn the region a voice at the table of presidential hopefuls.

“Without numbers, we will have no say in the successful governments from now and our voice will only be heard when we unite and form a powerful alliance together,” he said.

As the unity and alliance-making calls deepen, the region remains divided between leaders supporting president Kenyatta and those rallying behind his deputy William Ruto pulling apart.

Political pundits aver that the region could continue hurtling towards an unparalleled political rift that could ruin its constant tyranny of numbers and weaken its bargain on the national scene.

Meanwhile, MP Wainaina has expressed the need for all the parties from the region to remain objective and showcase their intentions to transform the social-economic livelihood of all electorates from the region.

“Every aspirant in the upcoming election should be open on their transformative agendas. I urge the electorates to demand the manifesto of those seeking political leadership. Leaders have a duty to work for those who gave them power,” he said.