A group of clerics drawn from the larger Mount Kenya region have now called for an end to divisive politics for developments’ sake.
They into the heated political battle pitting Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and a section of Kenya Kwanza politicians including president William Ruto.
They claim that the recent political turmoil in the country and especially in the central region has slowed down development projects adding that almost all projects have been halted at the expense of suffering residents.
The DP has been under sharp criticism from a section of leaders allied to the ruling United Democratic Party (UDA), who have threatened to dethrone him from the seat accusing him of fuelling tribal politics.
Majority of the leaders who have waged a war against the DP are lawmakers from the Mt Kenya region.
They have disassociated themselves from him [Rigathi] and have gone further to endorse Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki as their nexus between with the executive for the region’s developments.
Early this month, the National Assembly Majority Leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa led a battalion of 48 Parliamentarians from the region in a meeting in Nyahururu, Laikipia County, where they declared their support for Prof Kindiki.
Last week the Deputy President in an interview at Citizen TV revealed that he was privy to credible information that the lawmakers had converged to discuss his ouster as the second in command.
He however maintained that he’s not moved by the imminent impeachment saying that he’s only answerable to Kenyans who voted for him and not the MPs.
However, Central Kenya residents and clerics raised concerns that the political acrimony witnessed is being fanned deliberately to the detriment of developments.
Led by Bishop Amos Buchiri, Reverend Meshack Kimuri and Julia Wanjiru, they condemned the politicians for sounding early political drums ahead of the 2027 polls instead of training their focus on the real issue affecting residents and bedeviling the region.
They noted that crucial projects including roads and especially the Mau Mau road project, water, as well as implementation of the minimum guaranteed returns in milk, coffee and tea, have been given a blind eye as the leaders elected to represent the region’s interests are pursuing and serving their selfish political interests.
Bishop Buchiri said that time is ripe for President William Ruto to call his house to order and cool the rising political temperatures saying that if the trend continues it’ll fuel political intolerance in the country.
Mbote, a local leader and former Councilor from Kigumo constituency, said that it was worrying that infights and political squabbles are concentrated in Mt Kenya region while other regions are peaceful with leaders concentrating on implementing their campaign promises to their electorates.
Resident Frashia Muthoni challenged leaders from the region to bury the hatchet, put aside their differences and agitate for completion of development projects that were initiated by the defunct Jubilee regime headed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
They also called on the former Head of State [Uhuru] to come to the region’s rescue by providing guidance to leaders and especially the DP who has occasionally pleaded for his forgiveness over the 2022 elections political standoff.
They however warned Central Kenya MPs of involving themselves in the ouster move against the DP saying that they will be digging their own political graves.
Resident Jane Wanjiku said that locals are awake and aware of the incidents where their leaders have betrayed them including passing the contentious Finance Bill 2024-2025 that was later rejected by the president.
