Succession politics in Mt Kenya has continued to raise eyebrows as political leaders jostle over who should steer the region into the future.
The fights have been fuelled by the newfound friendship between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga as they push for the African Union Commission chairperson position for the latter.
The dalliance has caused Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua uneasiness and he publicly declared he is aware some people were using youthful leaders to cause conflicts and divisions.
In January, Gachagua faced off with Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro after some UDA MPs endorses the legislator as their favourite deputy president candidate for Ruto’s second term.
Their declaration caused ripples within the ruling party and Nyoro retreated, saying he supports the President and his deputy.
Last week in Embu, Gachagua said he was watching the political dynamics from afar and cautioned leaders against divisions along county lines. He said divisions would spell doom for the region if allowed to fester.
In the meeting, leaders professed their support for the DP, saying they will coalesce around him and shield him from any attempts to attack him.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, also UDA party chairperson, said Gachagua has been fighting for the interests of Mt Kenya and they would protect him.
Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruuku said they would defend him fiercely should the push for Raila into continental politics cross his line.
But Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina has rubbished their sentiments, saying nobody gave local leaders the responsibilities of shielding Gachagua.
The MP, who spoke on Tuesday while issuing National Government Affirmative Action Fund bursaries in Kenol, Maragua, accused some local leaders of ‘owning’ the deputy president.
“Everybody is behind the President and his deputy. All of us in Mt Kenya are strongly behind the duo. The deputy president’s politics is on a national level and should not be tied down to regional politics,” Maina said.
She said some politicians have been engulfed by local politics, making it seem like there are deep divisions when there are not.
Maina said Gachagua is on a level where his only competition should be seasoned political leaders such as Kalonzo Musyoka, a former deputy president.
“When Gachagua became a deputy president, he became the senior most politician in the region and ceased being local. He is beyond local kingship politics. He is now representing all communities,” she said.
The Woman Rep said Gachagua is sufficiently guarded by voters and the Constitution.
The "petty" politics, she said, have caused unnecessary conflicts between Gachagua and leaders such as Nyoro.
“When you get a microphone, you don’t have to use it to declare your allegiance to someone. Your voters did not vote for you for that. Discuss the issues that affect them. You can’t keep saying tuko nyuma yako’, he’s a national leader and we want him to play national politics,” Maina said.
“Who has ever heard Nyoro saying he wants to be the deputy president? It’s some people going to plead for tea with such information. Gachagua and Nyoro worked very hard to look for votes and should be allowed to enjoy their fruits. People should stop polluting the political scene”.
But Maina also faulted Gachagua, saying he will have to seek the support of other communities to rise in politics.
She said one community is incapable of propelling him to higher political positions and he will need to visit other parts of the country and ‘make friends’.
President Ruto, she said, won because he freed himself from Rift Valley politics and thrust himself into the national politics.
“This region should stop pretending that we own Gachagua more than other communities and give him space to go to other regions,” the first-term MP said.