Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi has led a section of politicians from Mt Kenya East demanding support for National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi from Central Kenya or else they quit GEMA.
And it emerged that Muturi, the recently crowned Mt Kenya spokesman was a project of Deputy President William Ruto with a promise to be the running mate.
Nominated MP Cecil Mbarire let the cat out of the bag when he said Muturi will be the running mate of Ruto in 2022 and that the matter was a done deal.
She also said that Gikuyu cousins from Mt Kenya West must be ready to support Muturi saying their Eastern cousins have supported them all through.
Mbarire’s announcement caught many by surprise because since his dramatic and controversial crowning, Muturi has attempted to play safe by not revealing his benefactors.
The running mate seat had also been promised to many tanga tanga followers in Central Kenya who are now bound to start new political alignments.
But it was Kiraitu who was more blunt, saying he does not want to hear that Mt Kenya West will produce a presidential candidate.
“We do not want to hear those things that they want to produce a presidential candidate in 2022,” said an angry Kiraitu, adding that it’s the time for the West to support the East.
His sentiments were immediately supported by Meru senator Mithika Linturi who said if Gikuyu cousins will not support the East, they are ready to break up from the Gema union.
Linturi is a die-hard supporter of Ruto who said it was Muturi or nothing for Mt Kenya region.
Kiraitu appeared to be reacting to a declaration by another Mt Kenya faction allied to President Uhuru that declared in Nyeri that they will field a presidential candidate in 2022.
The Uhuru allies meeting in Nyeri were governors Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), Ndiritu Muriithi (Laikipia), Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru), Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Martin Wambora (Embu), Mwangi Wa Iria (Murang’a) and CS Peter Munya several MPs and MCAs, elders and other stakeholders.
But the Mt Kenya East caucus suffered a blow after Embu governor Martin Wambora attended the Nyeri meeting.
Wambora was among the three governors from Mt Kenya East who endorsed the crowning of Muturi as the Mt Kenya spokesman.
Observers say the fronting of Muturi by Ruto in Mt Kenya was meant to further divide the region so that the large vote basket loses its value.
BBI co-chair and a big proponent of Mt Kenya unity Dennis Waweru said only unity will make the votes count. Waweru said they are aware of the very many attempts by Ruto to divide the region and in the end weaken it politically.
“I know the mountain is united, but there are various attempts to create divisions so as to weaken us politically and deny us a voice. I urge our people to see through these schemes and remain united,” said Waweru.
He said they will continue with their efforts to preach unity and the next stop will be Meru after the Nyeri at the weekend.
