I am not interested in being Mt Kenya kingpin, I'm past that; Maina Njenga says

Ex-Mungiki leader Maina Njenga addressing a press conference in Nairobi. [Samson Wire, Standard]

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga has told off critiques suggesting that he is trying to compete with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on who will be Mount Kenya region's kingpin, after the exit of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Speaking in an interview on Spice FM on Friday, July 14, Njenga said as a youth leader he has had his fair share of leading the Mt Kenya people and he has no interest in its kingmanship.

"They claim that want me to be the kingpin of Mt Kenya's village. I am not interested in that. I am past it...If someone wants to be a kingpin, then he or she can be that," said Njenga.

Njenga also cleared the air over his differences with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua saying that he holds nothing against him.

"I have no problem with the DP. He can talk all he wants; after all, he is the Deputy President of Kenya."

Njenga who has recently become a victim of Gachagua's public attacks distanced himself from after the DP alleged that he is attempting to return Mungiki.

The former Mungiki-sect leader also urged President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga to settle their differences for peace's sake.

"We don't have to keep fighting and arguing. We are people of one country. The two; Ruto and Raila Odinga should settle the matters affecting Kenyans," he said.

His remarks come at a time when Ruto and Odinga's disagreements on the governance of the country seem to escalate.

On Friday, July 15, Odinga called for a three-day nationwide anti-government protests aimed at addressing the high cost of living.

Ruto on the other end, maintained that he will not allow Odinga and his supporters to demonstrate, and if he [Odinga] still insists, he will face him head-on.

Njenga however believes that despite the uproar witnessed, the two leaders' issues can be easily solved through negotiation.

"They are human beings and they were once in one party, so they know each other. Theirs are just differences in ideologies that can be sorted out. It is good that people sit together and sort out their problems," he added.