Three Mt Kenya politicians have initiated reconciliation towards a united caucus ahead of 2022 polls signalling Deputy President William Ruto’s success hinged to his presidential bid in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s backyard.
Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, The Service Party (TSP) counterpart Mwangi Kiunjuri and Chama Cha Kazi’s Moses Kuria met at a Serena Hotel and resolved to form a caucus ahead of the General Election.
Speaking during a press conference, Karua said they are commited to work together on issues affecting the Mt Kenya region and the nation irrespective of their political affiliation.
“We also commit to reach out to other like-minded leaders to broaden this forum and to deepen our unity of purpose,” she said.
“We have given ourselves three months to consolidate the Mt Kenya vote into one basket before we agree and sit at a round table with other leaders from different regions whom we share a common goal and manifesto,” said Karua.
The trio maintained that they had no intention of dissolving their parties to form one vehicle as was the case with the ruling Jubilee Party in 2017.
“We are not here to discuss UDA, Ruto, ODM and Raila or even the other presidential contenders. Our aim is to first unite our people before initiating talks with leaders from other regions,” Kiunjuri said.
Kuria said he ditched the People’s Empowerment Party after he differed with officials, and calls by the DP seeking dissolution of the party to join UDA.
Kieni MP Kanini Kega welcomed plans to unite Mt Kenya leaders. “This is what we have been saying all along that the mountain cannot be divided. We must unite and nothing stops us from fronting a presidential candidate come next year’s election,” he said.
“Uhuru still remains our defacto leader as agreed during the ‘Limuru two’ meeting,” he added.
They announced a meeting would be held in Limuru in three months to come up with a way forward for the region in the President Uhuru Kenyatta succession race.
This comes on the backdrop of a clash between Kuria and Tangatanga MPs from Mt Kenya after he skipped a parliamentary group meeting convened by Ruto in Nairobi last week.
