A group of Members of County Assembly (MCAs) are throwing their weight behind Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kindiki Kithure as their preferred intermediary with the Kenya Kwanza government. This endorsement signals a potential realignment in the region’s political landscape and hints at growing tensions between CS Kindiki and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has long been seen as the region’s kingpin.
MCAs Rally Behind Kindiki
The MCAs, hailing from counties across the Mt Kenya region — including Murang’a, Kiambu, Nairobi, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Isiolo, Meru, and Tharaka Nithi — expressed confidence in CS Kindiki’s ability to drive development and represent their interests within the national government. In a closed-door meeting held at a hotel in Murang’a, the ward legislators underscored the importance of having an effective liaison between the region and the national government to ensure that development projects at the grassroots are prioritized and completed.
Kirinyaga Deputy Speaker Njinaro Njamuno, who is also the Mutithi MCA, emphasized the need for coordinated efforts in pushing for development. According to Njamuno, CS Kindiki’s role as the overseer of national development projects makes him the ideal leader to champion Mt Kenya’s growth agenda. He highlighted that having a direct link with the national government through Kindiki would complement county governments’ efforts to address local needs.
Njamuno stressed the importance of unity in development and warned against divisive politics along ethnic lines. He called on leaders to remain focused on improving the lives of their constituents, rather than engaging in political turf wars.
A Development Agenda for the Grassroots
The endorsement of CS Kindiki by the MCAs comes at a time when frustrations over stalled development projects in the region are mounting. MCAs are increasingly aware of the need to push for a united and coordinated approach to ensure equitable development. The endorsement mirrors a similar move by Mt Kenya MPs, who recently voiced their support for Kindiki as the focal point for delivering development to the region.
Chinga MCA Kiruka Thuku echoed these sentiments, stating that the MCAs have a unique understanding of the pressing needs of their constituents. “As MCAs, we frequently interact with residents and understand their most pressing needs. It is essential that we are fully involved in the development process,” said Thuku. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between county and national governments to address key issues such as infrastructure development, education, and healthcare at the grassroots level.
Isiolo County Assembly Speaker Mohammed Roba, who also attended the meeting, supported Kindiki’s role in coordinating national government projects, noting that his county stood to benefit significantly. “We are sure that through him we will benefit from more development and have stalled projects completed,” Roba said.
Tensions with Deputy President Gachagua
However, not all MCAs were in agreement with the endorsement of CS Kindiki. A section of ward representatives stormed out of the meeting, distancing themselves from the decision. They argued that all leaders in the region should be included in discussions about development and governance, and cautioned against sidelining any leader.
This endorsement of Kindiki further intensifies the apparent rift between him and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has long been considered the region’s political kingpin. Gachagua, whose influence has grown since Kenya Kwanza took office, is seen as the de facto leader of the Mt Kenya region, and any political moves that sideline him are likely to stoke tensions within the ruling coalition.
The endorsement of Kindiki, who holds a crucial position within the national government as Interior CS, may complicate Gachagua’s political standing in the region. While the MCAs have emphasized that their support for Kindiki is based on his mandate to coordinate national government projects, it cannot be overlooked that this move may be perceived as a challenge to Gachagua’s authority.
The Road Ahead
As Mt Kenya politicians jostle for influence and development resources, the growing support for CS Kindiki could mark the beginning of a significant power shift in the region. His role in driving development projects and his endorsement by a section of MCAs positions him as a key figure in the region’s political future.
However, whether this new alliance will hold or further fracture the region’s leadership remains to be seen. As MCAs push for development and unity, the challenge will be balancing the interests of all leaders in the region, including Gachagua. For now, the focus remains on ensuring that the region’s pressing development needs are met, but the underlying political dynamics will undoubtedly shape the course of Mt Kenya’s leadership in the coming months.
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