Mount Kenya leaders in yet another attempt to chart 2022 path

Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi (left)Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru (center) and Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni address the press at Kambi Msitu in Laikipia County .[Kibata Kihu, Standard]

The power struggle by political figures from Mt Kenya has led to the emergence of another caucus bringing together 11 outfits in the race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Governors Ann Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Nderitu Muriithi (Laikipia) and Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni yesterday led representatives of various parties in a strategy meeting.

This comes after a meeting of another caucus bringing together some Mt Kenya party leaders who say they plan to unite the region.

The vote-rich region is split due to lack of an outright political figure to take over leadership from Uhuru.

Ms Waiguru said the meeting was the beginning of a journey of bringing together political parties and interest groups to present a united front.

“This is part of consultations we have been having as leaders from the region. The purpose is to consult on the path we should take. We have been meeting as leaders but now expanded to have parties involved and we will soon meet business leaders,” she said.

The governor added: "We need to bring our people together to ensure we speak in one voice as a region."

Kioni argued that the region will only have a strong bargaining power in the next political dispensation if they spoke in one voice. He called for more consultations.

“The purpose of our meeting was to talk about unity. It is by talking in one voice that we will bargain as a region,” he said.

The absence of a strong presidential contender has split the region, with some leaders backing DP William Ruto while others are rooting for ODM leader Raila Odinga for the presidency.

Ruto is riding on the Mt Kenya's Jubilee support base of 2013 and 2017 while Raila is seeking to capitalise on his 2018 handshake with the president.