By Anderson Ojwang
Political tremors are rocking the once quite and galvanized house of Mumbi and threaten to split the mountain right down the middle.
But the once restive and hostile Lake has calmed down and witnessed a new political dawn that have been illusive for over 60 years.
The country two main political protagonists are currently taking unchartered and unfamiliar paths in an emerging new dispensation ahead of the 2027 Presidential elections.
The Mountains and the Lake have been the main political pillars of the nation and united during pre-independence struggle to deliver the country from the yoke of the British colonial government.
The Mountain, the dominant vote block and determinant in the country’s political landscape is currently facing uncertain future as incessant power struggles burst in open.
The once a united political bloc in the country, Mt Kemya is fast being polarized into various political units ahead of the 2027 general election.
A political rematch could be in the offing pitting two senior sons from the region namely Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Interior Cabinet Minister Prof Kithure Kindiki.
The tremors in the Mountains have been escalated by the entry of immediate former ODM leader Raila Odinga into a political alliance with President William Ruto that has witnessed the birth of broad based government.
In the Mountains, the battles have been both on the ground in rallies and various political functions while at the same time on the social media platforms which have become the new edge.
Reminiscent of the battle for the choice of Ruto’s running mate in the 2022 presidential elections, which narrowed down to Rigathi and Kindiki, today the scene is replaying itself again.
Ahead of the 2022 naming of the running mate, the party had shortlisted namely: Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, Kandara MP Alice Wahome, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki and Gachagua. The latter emerged victorious amid protests from the party ranks.
The black smoke to signal that things were not well in the Kenya Kwanza government and the mountain was blown by Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa.
In a strange twist of unfolding political event Barasa revived the controversial and contentious debate over Gachagua’s nomination claiming that Ruto overruled a caucus that picked Kindiki as running mate last presidential election.
“Gachagua secured a single vote when Mt Kenya leaders convened at Ruto’s official residence in Karen to pick a running mate,” he recently claimed.
Barasa claimed that they were embarrassed and will now have to plead for forgiveness for overruling the choice of Kindiki as running mate.
In what appears to be a well-choreographed political scheme, first the Mount Kenya East where 20 MPs named Kindiki as their political godfather
And yesterday, 48 MPs from the region and the diaspora have declared allegiance to Interior cabinet secretary as tremors gathers momentum
The endorsement of Kindiki as their link to the Executive is a pointer to widening rift in the region that may lead to a divided house in the next general election.
“ We have resolved after consultations to have a link that will create a nexus with the Executive on matters of development,’ they said.
But Rigathi has also stood his gun saying he was listening to the ground and committed to Mt Kenya unity by articulating its agenda in the distribution of national cake.
“Leaders should desist from creating narratives that do not exist I will not relent in pushing for the interests and unity of the Mt Kenya region,” the Deputy President said.
Kigumu MP Joseph Munyara a close ally of DP wrote in a in a press statement “ Unless and until his excellency deputy president formally informs us of his inability to advocate for the right of the region, we shall continue to stand by him as our highest representative in this administration,
He said unity in the Mt Kenya cannot be achieved through the weakening of its leadership and that the local leaders must avoid premature political campaigns.
But escalation of a political earthquake has been heightened further by National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah who publicly told off Gachagua over his unity bid asking him to stop preaching regional politics.
“ The DP is a leader holding a national office and he should seek to unite all Kenyans instead of those from his community alone. If we truly believe that we hold offices that bestow on you the role of being a symbol of national unity, seek to unite the people of Kenya not the people of Mt Kenya,” he said.
While the Mountain is rattled, the Lake is witnessing the calm with the exit of immediate ODM leader from the local political scene to continental arena.
Recently, the party appointed Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o to be the acting party leader while other former party luminaries settle in their cabinet portfolios after recent appointment.
President Ruti recently undertook a four day tour of Nyanza where he was welcomed with leaders pledging support for his administration.
