The Gachagua-Kindiki contest has finally come down to a game of numbers.
After weeks of heightened political activity in Mt Kenya region, it is now evident that most leaders from across the votes-rich region prefer Kithure Kindiki as their point man in the Executive, with hard numbers clearing the air.
Professor Kindiki is the Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and President William Ruto’s current right-hand man who has lately taken up the tough task of coordinating key national government projects.
Among those clearly on Prof Kindiki’s camp are 70 out of 87 Members of Parliament, drawn from the 11 counties of Mt Kenya and its Diaspora, including 21 Mps from Mt Kenya East.
A few of Mt Kenya leaders are yet to publicly declare their support, with some choosing to remain nonaligned on the matter.
Those on Kindiki’s camp comprise 80 per cent of the region’s elected leaders, with the rest split between Gachagua and other options.
Additionally, 300 Members of County Assemblies from across the 11 counties and the Diaspora have also thrown their weight behind Prof Kindiki, suggesting support that spreads all the way to the region’s grassroots.
At a press conference held at the Nokras Hotel in Muranga on Wednesday, the county lawmakers supporting Kindiki described him as the sober leader who is ready to help them access national government development programmes.
Community opinion leaders have also spoken on the matter, among them some 2,000 elders of the Meru’s Njuri Ncheke Council of elders, and 500 representatives of the two councils of Embu elders, Ngome council of elders and Nyangi Ndiiriri Council of Elders.
The elders greatly influence region’s political discourse, especially among rural voters who still revere them as cultural leaders who also play significant spiritual and social roles.
Mt Kenya Senators supporting Gachagua include Kamau Murango (Kirinyaga), Joe Nyutu (Murang’a) and radioman turned politician Karungo wa Thang’wa (Kiambu).
“Prof Kindiki’s calm and humble demeanour enders him to people, more so the elected leaders in Central Kenya region, many of whom have come out to endorse him,” says Charles Munyui. He is a well-known political analyst and opinion leader from Mt Kenya.
“Kindiki is not abrasive, he is said to treat them with respect and gives a listening ear. His rival in the mountain, on the other hand, has been accused of using intimidation and abrasiveness as a weapon to demand loyalty,” added Mr Munyui.
One of the leaders who has openly supported Kindiki is Tigania East legislator, Mpuru Aburi, who describes him as a mature and emotionally stable politician.
“Someone took Kindiki’s position as Ruto’s running mate by force,” Aburi says in an apparent bout aimed at Mr Gachagua.
Mpuru is among the majority of leaders from Mt. Kenya East-comprising Meru, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi counties-who have openly called for Ruto to recognise Kindiki as the region’s link to the executive.
Led by Meru County assembly speaker Ayub Bundi and Mbeere North Mp Geoffrey Ruku, Mt Kenya East leaders argued that most of the region’s prominent leaders have been sidelined over the years despite massive support to different political regimes.
“We will speak with one voice as the Meru, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu communities and declare Kindiki as our leader to represent us at the negotiating table,” Bundi said.
“Your (Kindiki) track record speaks for itself. We are behind you. You are the spokesperson for our people,” added Ayub.
Horse trading
In the run up to the 2022 elections, Kindiki emerged as most preferred candidate for the Deputy President position, with several polls placing him way ahead of Gachagua but after some horse trading, the Moi-era District Officer was named Ruto’s running mate.
Immediately upon swearing-in, Mr Gachagua launched a scathing attack against President Uhuru Kenyatta, something that went on for most of his early days as the number two. Most of compatriots considered the attacks as unnecessary and an outright insult to their man, despite surrendering power without any reservations.
Later, the former Mathira Member of Parliament launched a crusade to have regions that voted against the Kenya Kwanza administration isolated, something that would be highly criticised by his critics as parochial and selfish.
“He is laid-back, unlike Gachagua, who is the complete opposite,” political analyst Javas Bigambo said in an earlier interview adding that Prof Kindiki has a more promising political future compared to Gachagua.
Insiders
While President Ruto has declined to wade into the Mt Kenya politics, he has been heard calming political embers, urging leaders to instead focus on delivery of promises they made during the last General Election.
At a Church service last weekend, President Ruto said it was time to deliver, not politic, in what was seen as a thinly veiled attack against his Deputy, who has been holding roadside political rallies christened, “listening to the ground” and secret meetings with politicians where he has issued directives, something most of the leaders have detested.
Speaking at Kiambaa last Monday at an event presided over by Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa revealed that most region’s leaders were unwilling to work with leaders who did not respect their offices, and by extension their electorates.
Terming the Deputy leader as selfish, Mr Kimani said they were ready to work with those who would help them deliver national government projects like roads, water and better tea and coffee prices, not those declaring themselves regional kingpins.
At the event, Professor Kindiki launched a Police Station and also flagged off the construction of a Road despite the presence of Davis Chirchir, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Roads and Transport.
Kimani has also been critical of the One Man, One Vote, One Shilling crusade that Mr Gachagua has been using to rally Mt Kenya region.
“We are in government. Let’s use the power and offices that we have, not going back to public meetings incite wananchi,” said Mr Kimani.
In recent days, Gachagua come under fire for his One-Man-One-Shilling campaign, with his critics terming it a populist move.
Kindiki on his part has insisted on One County, One Flag, One People in what he says is among his mandate to retain the country as one.
Mt. Kenya Region has suffered high octane politics around fathom unity to support individual and personal ambition rather than the articulation, pursuit and lobbying of the interests of our constituents
During the recently released Nyahururu Declaration where Mt Kenya leaders declared former Tharaka Nithi Senator as their preferred link to the national government, leaders said they were not ready to throw their constituents into the opposition as they participated in the formation of the current Kenya Kwanza Government.
“Our efforts to consolidate the developmental needs of the people we represent and canvass for their realisation has been frustrated by the lack of a focal point of reference around whom we can channel the interests and priorities of our people to the Government for actualisation” read the statement.
“Instead, the Mt. Kenya Region has suffered high octane politics around fathom unity to support individual and personal ambition rather than the articulation, pursuit and lobbying of the interests of our constituents.”
The line recurred in statements issued from Embu, Muranga and even Meru.
Coming after the entry of Opposition leaders into Ruto’s Cabinet, following what became known as GenZ protests in July, it is clear that leaders of the Mount Kenya region are not yet ready to leave their house.
Political pundits have argued that Mr Ruto could still win the 2027 elections even without the support populous Mt Kenya region.
In the past, Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya African National Union, Kanu, won twice without most of the Mt Kenya voters, beating the then opposition leaders both in 1992 and 1997 polls.
With the apparent invitation of Raila Odinga into government, consolidation of Western and Nyanza could be Ruto’s 2027 winning strategy, something that would leave Mt Kenya in the political cold.
Some of the heighted political efforts to isolate Gachagua are meant to dodge the possibility and retain a powerful position in government.
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