By Anderson Ojwang
East or West, home is the best. And that is the narrative currently finding its way in Mt Kenya as the two leading regional leaders, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and the immediate former Rigathi Gachagua, feud.
It is a bare-knuckle fight as Kindiki, with Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, have embarked on a move to decolonise the East from decades of marginalisation from Mt Kenya West.
Ruku wrote: “Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta had money to fund Thika Superhighway and dual carriage from Kenol to Marwa plus Mau Mau roads in Mt Kenya West.
“But there was NO MONEY to fund NITHI BRIDGE in Mt Kenya East. The only person who found money to fund Nithi Bridge is William Ruto.
“This hypocrisy is what we are ending once and for all come 2027 August as MT KENYA EAST. We’re not babies – we have come of age as a people,” he said.
Ruku said Mt Kenya East should pursue its political course without any form of interference from any quarters.
“Political unity should not come at the expense of development, and the interests of our people should take priority over maintaining a united political bloc.
“Mt Kenya East should be willing to pursue a separate political path if doing so will improve our chances of securing development projects and greater representation in government,” he said.
Ruku said Mt Kenya East was concerned with politics of development and not rhetoric.
“If splitting the mountain will get Mt Kenya East electricity, then let it be so. If splitting the mountain will see Mt Kenya East get tarmac roads, let it be so!
“A split is necessary if it enhances the prospects of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki succeeding President William Ruto as President in 2032.
“If that is what the Mt Kenya West push us to do…then wacha ipasuke!” he said.
And the call has caused panic in former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who wrote: “There is something mysterious with the Pasua Movement from Mt Kenya East. What is it you expect from Kikuyus? What is your ask? And do not tell me it’s about the Deputy President position because we cannot force a Presidential candidate on whom to pick as a running mate. Currently we have one in office and we fully support him. The choice of the next one is not in our hands. That decision is above our pay grade. Cut us some slack, please.”
The Elders Assembly
Recently, the Mt Kenya East congregated to charter a new path for the region with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
The section of the council of elders from Mt Kenya East backed President William Ruto and Kindiki’s re-election bid and called for unity across the Mt Kenya region ahead of the next election.
“We respectfully call upon our brothers and sisters in Mt Kenya West, including those living in the diaspora, to recognise the historic moment before us and to extend to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki the same spirit of solidarity, loyalty and brotherhood that Mt Kenya East has historically extended to leaders from Mount Kenya West,” they said.
The leaders also endorsed DP Kindiki as the community’s spokesperson, saying he is the only one authorised to speak for and on behalf of the region.
“Any individual, leader or community seeking to engage the people of Mt Kenya on any matter, including politics, shall do so through Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, as the duly recognised national leader through whom the people of Mt Kenya East shall engage on matters affecting the political and development future of the Mountain,” they said.
But the move rattled Gachagua and a section of elders who condemned it as a plot to split the mountain.
The official Embu Council of Elders, known as Nyagi ya Ndiriri, rejected a recent gathering at Nembure Stadium where a group of elders named Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as the political spokesman for the area.
Council chairman Andrew Ireri said those who attended the meeting were not legitimate members of the official council and therefore had no mandate to make political decisions or speak on behalf of the Embu community.
Final
But Kindiki responded by terming the declaration as final and irreversible.
“In pre-colonial and colonial Kenya, Nembure is where all disputes were settled with finality among the Aembu people.
“Decisions made at Nembure were final with no right of appeal.
“Source: Kiama Kia Muembu & Nyangi Ndiriri elders,” he wrote.
Kindiki said he honoured the summons by Mt Kenya East Council of Elders comprising Njuri Ncheke, Nyangi Ndiriri, Ngome, Kiama kia Muembu and Kiama kia Ma from Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Mwea.
“We have resolved to advance the promotion of community and national unity, defend Kenya’s national interest and support all interventions that anchor Kenya’s development into the future.
“A solemn assembly of more than 30,000 elders has resolved to resist divisive leadership and support the ideals that promote respect for diversity, inclusion and national unity,” he said.
But Gachagua accused President Ruto of attempting to divide the Mt Kenya region by using Kindiki to create a political split between Mt Kenya East and Mt Kenya West.
Speaking at Manyatta Market in Embu County on Saturday, Gachagua said the alleged strategy was aimed at weakening the region by creating divisions between communities in the eastern and western parts of Mt Kenya.
Gachagua said despite efforts to divide the region, it would vote as a bloc to remove the Kenya Kwanza government during the 2027 elections.
Ruku said after 64 years of oppression and marginalisation of Mt Kenya East in the hands of Mt Kenya West Presidents and Vice Presidents, Mt Kenya East has come of age to move on from the abusive and toxic relationship.
“We will marry whoever we want, whenever we want and on our own terms and conditions. But by all means, it’s time to cut ties with our abusive and toxic political partners,” he wrote.
The voice
Kindiki expressed concern over constant imitation of his voice by Gachagua to disparage him.
“Talking about my voice is the only contribution your emptiness and incompetence can make in matters politics, policy and leadership.
“A disgraceful exit from public service as a DO, a most unremarkable WANTAM as Mathira MP, and your wasted two years as Deputy President seems not to have made any impact on your deplorable behaviour,” he wrote.
Not the same
Mt Kenya politics will never be the same, and the age-old unity is now under threat. East may walk their way as West will try to forestall the fallout.
