Mt Kenya East bigwigs take over Kiyiapi’s party

Political bigwigs from Mt Kenya East are positioning to take over the Restore and Build Kenya party, which was once led by former Education PS James ole Kiyiapi.

Former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti and other senior politicians from the region have been positioned as new officials of the party Kiyiapi sought to ride on in the 2013 presidential race.

In the proposed changes revealed by the Office of Registrar of Political Parties, Kivuti is poised to be the party’s national chairman to take over from Solomon Ouko.

The notice by the parties’ registrar Anne Nderitu shows that RBK would be led by Watson Kimathi, with Rael Fatuma Murungi as the deputy party leader.

Lawyer Mugambi Imanyara, who unsuccessfully contested the Meru Senate seat in the 2017 elections, is poised to be the party’s secretary-general.

Other proposed officials are Joseph Kipwambok (deputy national chairperson), Njagi M’Muga (deputy secretary general), Eunice Karema (national treasurer), and Emilio Kathuri (organising secretary).

Ruth Gichengi is poised to be chairperson of Women Convention, Pamela Gitobu as chair youth convention, Mutuma Dennis as director of elections, and Zeyruq Ahmed Sheikh as secretary of special interest group.

Imanyara said they are not forming a regional but a national party.

"If you look at the officials, they are spread from all over the country. We have a national outlook and that is what we want to. However, we have no problem if the majority come from Mt Kenya East since each party has its base," Imanyara said.

He said their goal is to create a party with a national outlook.

The officials being replaced are Duncan Otieno (party leader), Ruth Ocholla (deputy party leader), Solomon Onyango,  (deputy national chairperson), Jakait Sangalo (secretary-general).

Others are Adam Mwafrika (deputy secretary general), Jane Muthoni (national treasurer), Wilhyde Mulobi (organizing secretary), Ann Mutheu, Timothy Mwendwa, Elvis Mwaura, Chrispine Awuonda, and Solomon Kipkeny.

Kivuti is part of the team of political leaders who have been championing a political vehicle for Mt Kenya East ahead of the 2022 general election, begging questions if this was the outfit they have been bidding for.

There were perceptions that the team was crafting a vehicle for Speaker Justin Muturi to use for his 2022 presidential bid.

The meetings have largely been chaired by Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, who is among three Mt Kenya East governors backing Muturi for the top job.

Senior politicians from Meru, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi counties were common faces in the meetings, some being representatives of the county bosses.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya and Meru Senator Mithika Linturi have not been actively taking part in the talks, which seem to have culminated in them settling on Restore and Build Kenya party.

However, Muturi’s camp dismissed the assertions saying the speaker was yet to settle on the party he’d use for the bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In a recent presser though, the speaker ruled out seeking the post through the Jubilee Party, and that he was working on a political formation he’d unveil in due course.

Mt Kenya East has been associated with the Alliance Party of Kenya – famed as Bus party, through which many leaders from the region contested the 2013 vote before the outfit was folded up to form Jubilee in 2017.

Kivuti is seeking to succeed Governor Martin Wambora, who is leaving office after serving two terms and had sought to revive the party for bargaining power in the 2022 duel.

During a recent meeting, the former lawmaker said there was more for the region to gain in having its own party than bank on other established outfits.

Mbeere North MP Muriuki Njagagua said leaders pooling in one outfit would help shore up the regions’ stakes in the 2022 succession.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris