By The Weekly Vision Team
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua found himself politically isolated in his home region after 48 lawmakers from Mount Kenya West distanced themselves from his leadership and declared Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as their new spokesperson.
The MPs, gathering under the Mount Kenya and diaspora forum in Nyahururu, Nyandarua County, announced that Kindiki would now serve as their official link to the national government. This move followed a similar declaration earlier in the week by lawmakers from Mount Kenya East, representing Embu, Meru, and Tharaka Nithi counties, who also endorsed Kindiki as their leader and connection to the executive, effectively sidelining Gachagua, who has positioned himself as the dominant political figure of the larger Mount Kenya region.
Present during the announcement were influential figures such as Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu MP), Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East), and other key MPs like Eric Wamumbi (Mathira), Betty Maina (Murang’a), and John Kiarie (Dagoretti South). Their collective statement emphasized that Kindiki would be their point of contact for advancing the region’s developmental priorities and connecting with the executive.
Although Gachagua was not directly mentioned, the lawmakers expressed frustrations over divisive politics in the region, which they claimed had been driven by personal ambitions rather than focusing on the broader needs of the community. They stressed that the region’s unity must be sought in a way that aligns with national unity, distancing themselves from Gachagua’s calls for regional dominance. This statement is seen as a strategic move by President William Ruto’s allies to weaken the DP’s influence in the region by rallying behind Kindiki as a more palatable alternative.
Kindiki himself has criticized Gachagua’s approach, accusing him of promoting ethnic interests while holding a national office, a violation of the public trust. The ongoing power struggle within Mount Kenya is seen as part of a broader effort by Ruto to consolidate control over the region and sideline Gachagua, who has been accused of fueling tribalism under the guise of regional unity.
Despite these internal divisions, the MPs reiterated their commitment to pursuing key economic projects for the region, particularly in the areas of agriculture, infrastructure, and business, as outlined in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto. They also vowed to regularly meet to review the progress of these initiatives, signalling their intention to maintain influence while aligning themselves with Kindiki’s leadership moving forward.
