The recent removal of Rigathi Gachagua from his position as Deputy President has intensified discussions surrounding the establishment of a regional political party for the Mount Kenya region.

Politicians from the area have been quick to claim that Gachagua’s troubles were partly due to the region’s unquestioning support for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) without the backing of its own regional party.

Apart from the ongoing division between Central and Eastern Mount Kenya, UDA now faces the daunting task of regaining the confidence of its voters as the 2027 general elections loom.

The movement to establish a Mount Kenya-specific political party began earlier this year after it was reported that Gachagua had initiated a process to take control of The New Democrats (TND) party as well as the Democratic Party (DP) after his relationship with President William Ruto began to sour.

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, a close ally of Gachagua, expressed regret over the region’s failure to unite under a single political banner alongside President Ruto in 2022.

“There are many parties from the Mount Kenya region. If the situation becomes challenging, we may rejoin one of the parties we left, including Jubilee, and align with UDA,” Kahiga said in August 2024.

Similarly, former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been advocating for the formation of a single party representing the interests of the Mount Kenya people.

Read also:Rigathi Gachagua impeachment

He made this call in July, following President Ruto’s controversial decision to appoint ODM leaders as ministers in his government.

“Mount Kenya must field its own presidential candidate in 2027. If we engage in any negotiations, it should be within our party. We cannot repeat the mistake of 2022 by joining UDA without prior agreement,” Waititu stated.

Recently, Gachagua himself remarked that President Ruto had betrayed him by allowing his political downfall after the assistance he provided in securing Ruto’s 2022 victory.

“When we were forming UDA, I trusted President Ruto, but other politicians insisted on formal agreements with him. I’m surprised that the President I helped win the election could treat me this way,” Gachagua expressed.

Former Agriculture Minister Mithika Linturi has also voiced his support for the idea of creating a party solely to defend the region’s interests.

“As leaders, we must create our own house and organize ourselves properly. We cannot be lured into joining parties that don’t represent us. When things go wrong, the outsider will kick you out, and you’ll have no recourse. Let’s not make the same mistake in 2027,” Linturi emphasized.

Similarly, Peter Munya, the leader of the PNU party, argued that Gachagua’s downfall served as a crucial lesson for Mount Kenya leaders.

“Gachagua’s ousting is a big lesson for us. When you enter someone’s house, they can throw you out at will. Let’s not be misled but ensure we have agreements within our own party. This is why we have preserved PNU,” said Munya, a former Governor of Meru.

Now, as Professor Kithure Kindiki rises to power as the highest-ranking politician from Mount Kenya in government, the region finds itself in a delicate situation.

Despite his elevation as the region’s government spokesperson in September 2024, Kindiki faces the challenge of quelling the dissatisfaction among the people and balancing the influence of Gachagua, whose political clout is still deeply felt.

Even though Kindiki’s performance as the Minister for Internal Security has been widely praised, he must navigate the growing disillusionment in Mount Kenya and solidify his leadership in a politically fractured region.

The unfolding political dynamics in Mount Kenya paint a picture of a region at a crossroads, with political leaders seeking both to preserve their influence and assert regional autonomy ahead of the 2027 elections.

They argue that the formation of a Mount Kenya-specific party may be the answer to this political conundrum, as the region seeks to assert its own voice on the national stage.

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