Meru Senator Mithika Linturi is set to be the new entrant in the Meru gubernatorial race.
Linturi will join Agriculture CS Peter Munya and Meru Woman Representative Kawira Mwangaza who have also declared interest.
Although the senator has not personally declared, there are signs hinting he will try to capture the seat under a UDA ticket in 2022.
This comes weeks after Deputy President William Ruto attacked Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi in his Meru visit.
Kiraitu has already formed Devolution Empowerment Party, a fact his allies say might have rattled the DP.
Ruto was expecting the county boss to join his camp. Meru chief of staff Gideon Kimathi said the deputy president was not happy with the creation of the Mbus.
Linturi's entry could complicate the arithmetic for the county boss race. The senator could also be favoured by the rotational dynamism.
Meru has three main sub tribes, Agriculture CS Peter Munya who was first Meru governor is from Tigania sub tribe, current Governor Kiraitu Murungi is from Imenti and Senator Mithika Linturi from Igembe.
A majority of Igembe residents feel that Meru governor should come from Igembe for rotational purposes.
Igembe Central MP Kubai Kiringo on Monday said seven out of nine elected MPs in Meru allied to Deputy President have agreed to support Mithika Linturi for governor.
"The people of Igembe are capable of producing a governor. We will have one of our own in the gubernatorial race, so I urge all Igembe people to support him," Kiringo said at Gichanine in his constituency.
Kiringo said they have supported Tigania and Imenti to clinch the seat and its time that the two sub tribes return the favour.
He said Mithika will run on a UDA ticket.
His sentiments were echoed by Igembe South MP aspirant Joseph Mithika who said Mithika should vie for the seat in 2022.
Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has however, not been on good terms with some of the Meru MPs.
Kiraitu who was South Imenti MP before he vied for senator in 2013 has been exchanging utterances with South Imenti MP Kathuri Murungi.
The governor had urged residents to elect a loyal MP. Although he did not name anyone, he was seen to endorse his chief of staff Gideon Kimathi, who is eying the South Imenti seat.
Kathuri said Kiraitu should concentrate on fighting his own battles and build his dwindling governorship fortunes instead of trying to dethrone him from the seat in 2022.
He said if the governor continues to engage in such a manner he will loose his seat.
However, Kiraitu on Saturday received a boost after 40 MCAs said they will support his bid to recapture the seat using his newly rebranded Devolution Empowerment Party.
Kiraitu said he is confident of retaining the seat.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
