Kindiki vs Gachagua: Leadership Tussle Divides Mt Kenya MCAs

A recent gathering of approximately 300 ward representatives from the Mt Kenya region ended in discord on Wednesday as participants failed to reach a consensus on endorsing Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as the region's spokesperson.

Initially, there were expectations that Governor Anne Waiguru and Professor Kindiki would attend, but neither was present at the meeting. The assembly quickly devolved into factions, with Members of County Assembly (MCAs) divided over whether Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua or Professor Kindiki should serve as their primary liaison to President William Ruto. Tensions escalated when representatives from Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu advocated for Professor Kindiki to assume the role of regional spokesman. This proposition was met with strong opposition from MCAs hailing from Murang'a and Kirinyaga, who accused their colleagues of deviating from the meeting's intended agenda.

Kirinyaga's Baragwi Ward MCA David Mathenge has expressed his dismay at the unexpected turn of events. He stated that the original purpose of the gathering was to discuss welfare issues, not to endorse a regional spokesperson. Mathenge and his allies argued that Deputy President Gachagua, as the most senior politician from the region, was better suited for the role. Supporters of Professor Kindiki lauded his competence, experience, and capacity to advance the region's development agenda. They asserted that as grassroots leaders in daily contact with their constituents, they had collectively decided to rally behind Kindiki to champion their welfare and developmental concerns.

This declaration further inflamed tensions, prompting those aligned with the Deputy President to exit the meeting in protest. The situation deteriorated as the two factions exchanged heated words and accusations. Joseph Njeru, a representative from Tharaka Nithi, argued that MCAs' welfare and regional development programs had stagnated, positioning Professor Kindiki as the ideal candidate to address these issues. Muturi Mwombo, an MCA from Embu, contended that it was time for a change in leadership as the region had long been dominated by politicians from Mt Kenya West.

Despite the discord, all MCAs present initially expressed their unwavering support for President Ruto's pursuit of equitable national development and improved living standards for Kenyans. However, the meeting ultimately highlighted the ongoing political friction within the Mt Kenya region, which many MCAs attribute to a lack of cohesive leadership. The endorsement of Professor Kindiki follows a recent declaration by 48 Members of Parliament from the Mt Kenya region and its 'diaspora', who named him as their leader. These lawmakers cited frustration over the absence of a clear channel for communicating their developmental concerns to the national government.

Council of Governors Chair Governor Anne Waiguru has distanced herself from the meeting, clarifying that she had neither been involved in organizing the event nor consulted about its agenda. Waiguru notes that the welfare issues, which were supposed to be the main focus of the gathering, were already being addressed through appropriate channels.