Mt Kenya kingpin debate leaves diaspora vote confused

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Interior CS Kithure Kindiki at Kenya-Somalia border post in Mandera ahead of Kenya-Ethiopia-Somalia trilateral meeting that will bring peace and trade between the three countries on May 11,2023. [File, Standard]

The increasingly complex and divided Mt Kenya region kingpin debate has thrown its diaspora vote into confusion as succession politics take center stage in major political events.

This follows the emergence and public declaration of Prof Kithure Kindiki as Mt Kenya’s kingpin by a section of the region’s lawmakers to rival Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The move adds to the already complicated regional politics where former President Uhuru Kenyatta is also regarded as the de-facto leader and whose influence cannot be wished away.

According to former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, last week's Nyahururu declaration in favour of Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kindiki has left the diaspora more confused.

“As a diaspora vote, we normally face Mt Kenya. With the recent developments, we don’t know where to face. We have never witnessed the region divided this much,” said Ngunjiri.

The former legislator described the split into Mt Kenya East and Mt Kenya West a recipe for chaos noting that this was likely to boil down to ethnic division in a historically united region.

“The diaspora vote is in millions but constituted by all Mt communities. With this powerplay, its weight in the voting matrix will be lost too,” he said.

Ngunjiri who rallied the diaspora vote behind President William Ruto in 2022 said that this has left them in a precarious position where their only choice is to fence sit as the mountain burns.

“We won’t allow ourselves to be dragged into that Mt Kenya wars. We challenge to bring topical issues on development which are the essence of political unity,” he said.

He called on President Ruto to call for a ceasefire among the two groups, both of whom pledge loyalty to him, warning that such divisions would cost him politically.

“We want to see Ruto actively involved in finding a truce. If he has already decided not to pair with Gachagua in 2027, let that come up during the campaigns. Not now,” he said.

The politician noted that the division had turned the region into a mockery as other regions now scramble for government projects.

“Leaders from the opposition came on board recently and soon we shall see their people reaping big as Mt Kenya which played a key role in forming the current administration is left behind politicking,” said Ngunjiri.

On his part, ACK Diocese of Nakuru Bishop Anthony Mwaura said that the conduct by Mt Kenya leaders had left most voters in regret for their choices.

“No voter went to the ballot and elected a leader for the purpose of 2027 political discourse. They have however turned this to their main agenda,” said Bishop Mwaura.

According to the cleric, the discussion was a missed priority especially at a time when Kenyans were complaining about the performance of the current administration.

“There is so much yet to be done against which the voters will assess the performance of this administration. It is the wish of all Kenyans to see leaders talking of policy matters more than politics,” said Bishop Mwaura.