Mt Kenya East MPs Rally Behind Kindiki, Dismiss Junet’s Push for DP Position
Munene said Mt Kenya leaders are fully behind Kindiki and will not watch as he is undermined by new entrants in government.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Linda Olendo
Members of Parliament from Mt Kenya East have fiercely defended Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki against mounting pressure from a section of ODM leaders demanding his seat, telling off National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed to keep off Kenya Kwanza affairs.
The MPs said Junet and Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, who have been vocal about ODM deserving the Deputy President’s position under the broad-based government, were not part of the team that campaigned and voted for President William Ruto.
Addressing residents in Mwea, Igamba Ng’ombe MP Patrick Munene, Mwea MP Mary Maingi and Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Gitari said the broad-based government does not mean ODM will be handed the second-highest office in the land on a silver platter.
“ODM has no moral authority to demand a 50-50 share of the government or the DP seat. Junet Mohamed did not elect this government. He spent his time fighting us in Azimio. Now he wants to come and take what others worked for,” said Munene.
Munene said Mt Kenya leaders are fully behind Kindiki and will not watch as he is undermined by new entrants in government.
“We are telling Junet to focus on his role in ODM. We will defend Kindiki from within the government at all costs. We have no fear. We will even front him for the presidency in 2032. Kindiki will be on the presidential ballot in 2032,” he stated.
The lawmakers also responded to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has been claiming that he remains the political supremo of the Mt Kenya region and will give direction on the region’s voting pattern.
“Gachagua is a bitter man after his impeachment. Who is he to direct us? He should deal with his own issues and leave Mt Kenya people alone,” Munene added.
Gitari on his part said Kindiki has never complained about being sidelined and is busy executing his mandate as Deputy President, and accused Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku of trying to divide the mountain by suggesting Mt Kenya should be split.
“Kindiki has not said he has a problem. Why are ODM leaders crying more than the bereaved? If we start splitting Mt Kenya into East and West, then we will also split ODM into four. If Ruku wants to do politics, let him resign as CS first,” Gitari said.
Maingi affirmed that Kirinyaga remains firmly in Mt Kenya East and that Kindiki remains the region’s undisputed kingpin.
“Kindiki is strong and remains the King of the Mountain. Kirinyaga has always been Mt Kenya East. We used to get our services in Embu before I lobbied for a Huduma Centre in Mwea,” she said.
The MPs vowed to continue supporting the Ruto-Kindiki administration to deliver its development agenda.
About Author
