Muturi says he backs move for Mt Kenya party

The recent coronation of National Assembly Speaker Justin Mururi as the spokesman of the Mt Kenya region has elicited unprecedented wrangles in the area with the 2022 succession of President Uhuru Kenyatta taking centre-stage.

Also in the mix is  Deputy President William Ruto who forays into the vote-rich land has sharply divided opinion in the hitherto politically intact electorate.

The infighting came to the fore after Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi was installed controversially as the spokesperson for the region.

Although it first appeared to be a cultural event, it has since turned to be part of the succession battle in the vote rich region.

Yesterday, Muturi said he backed calls by some leaders from Mt Kenya East region to have its own political party for the unity of the region.

Speaking at St Paul’s ACK Cathedral in Embu town Muturi said the push by a section of the local leaders to have Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi revive the Party of National Unity (PNU) is something that should be considered seriously because it is a good move that will ensure leaders in the area are united in one party.

Threat to walk alone

The sentiments came a day after Kiraitu and a section of leaders from the region threatened to walk alone if their Kikuyu counterparts fail to support them for a coveted seat.

“We are not as stupid as we look; we have been for a long time left in the cold and politically marginalised  so we are asking our neighbours to back us this time round and if they fail we are ready to walk alone because we cannot always keep supporting them to clinch power and they cannot reciprocate,” said Kiraitu.

Bahati MP Ngunjiri Wambugu said it is clear that the said political battles in Mt Kenya region are part of the many strategies to divide Ruto’s votes in the region.

“Some of the leaders in the region are introducing the said divisions in a bid to sneak in the running-mate idea.

They will soon be demanding for talks with Ruto demanding the running-mate slot in exchange of their support,” Ngunjiri claimed.

He alleged that the move to create divisions in the region was the brainchild of Prof Peter Kagwanja who is working at the behest of external forces.

Ngunjiri said Mt Kenya region was not interested in the presidency since, logically, they stand no chance but some functions were using the threat to field a candidate as a ploy to initiate talks to demand for the running mate.

To field presidential candidate

On Saturday while speaking in Tharaka, Muturi hinted that the Mt Kenya region will field a presidential candidate come 2022.

Speaking at Tharaka University College in Tharaka Nithi County, Muturi affirmed that the region is working towards producing a candidate to run for the top office in the next General-Election.

He said there is need for all leaders within region to have a conversation on how to re-invent a regional party. The Speaker said he will engage Kiraitu to discuss on the proposal to have Mt Kenya East party.

Muturi said his role as the Mt Kenya spokesman is to work towards uniting all the leaders and residents within Mt Kenya region so that there is need to speak in one voice on matters development in the region.

“My core mandate is to bring together all leaders in Mt Kenya Region to reason together on how we can push for development in our region,” said Muturi.

Former National Cohesion and Integration Commissioner (NCIC) Prof Gitile Naituli said that East and West of Mt Kenya is solid, disputing allegations that the region is headed for a split ahead of the next election.

“I confirm that we are in agreement on how we can walk together and what we want in the next government and Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Embu counties are solid and about the small noise you can hear from the west we are working on it so we can  have a strong house  politically,” noted Naituli.

 Addressing professionals from the region, Muturi declared that time has come for the people of Mt Kenya East to be represented in the national map.

“We have been escorting others to power for many years, it is our time now to come together and run for the ‘gold medal’ and not position two or three and we are asking our west counterparts to support us and accept to be led this time round,” added Muturi.

He said Mt Kenya West has enjoyed overwhelming support from the East during which the region has produced three presidential candidates, saying it is now time for a payback.

“Our time has come to show our potential and our neighbour should accept that and stop making noise and fueling division.

We have supported them without conditions for many decades so they should join hands with us and let walk together and speak  in one voice because united we can achieve,” he added.

Muturi who was accompanied by Chuka University Vice Chancellor Erastus Njoka who also declared his candidature for the Tharaka Nithi gubernatorial seat, said the region will settle for less than a top seat in the coming poll.  Report by Anthony Mwangi, Dorcas Mbatia and Brian Musyoka