• The region is split among Deputy President William Ruto, ODM leader Raila Odinga, Agriculture CS Peter Munya and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi.
• Failure by Uhuru to unite the leaders has resulted in the divisions leaving the region headless and like the biblical Tower of Babel
Image: DENNIS DIBONDO
Four political factions pulling in different directions have emerged in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Mt Kenya backyard that could ruin its much-touted tyranny of numbers in the 2022 poll.
In what could diminish the bargaining power of the region, Mt Kenya's political elite are split into four camps.
One camp is supporting Deputy President William Ruto, the other ODM leader Raila Odinga while another team backs Agriculture CS Peter Munya.
The fourth camp supports National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi.
Political analyst Francis Mugwe told the Star that with the region unlikely to produce a front-runner in the August presidential contest, all factions are trying to position themselves as the lead negotiators with presidential front-runners.
Mugwe said failure by Uhuru to unite the leaders from the country has resulted in the divisions that has left the region “headless and like the biblical Tower of Babel.
“The President has not been able to manage his succession well. On one hand, he feels like he should continue being the political head of the region.
"On the other hand, politicians salivating to take over from him are engaged in echo fights on who should lead the Mountain into the next government,” he told the Star in a phone interview on Wednesday.
He added, “All these groups are all claiming to have numbers. But from what we have been seeing in recent by-elections in the region, the DP Ruto wing has carried the day.
"Those allied to the President or claiming to be championing the interests of the community have failed. From the by-elections, we can easily see where the numbers are.”
The first group heading in a different direction is the one the coalescing around Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya.
The group is said to be breaking away from the Jubilee-ODM political plan with an elaborate scheme to prop up another force from within ahead of the general election.
Some Cabinet ministers and top government officials are said to have rebelled against the President's succession plans and are scheming their next steps.
Part of what is causing discomfort within Uhuru's camp is a feeling that the proposed Jubilee-ODM alliance may destroy some politicians and civil servants' 2022 ambitions.
It is comprised of Governors Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru), Muranga's Mwangi Wa Iria and Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga).
In fact, speaking in Muranga at a function presided over by Raila on Tuesday, Waiguru remained guarded, only insisting that Uhuru will give them direction.
Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo and a section of former MPs are also part of the team that is rooting first for the unity of the region before entering into any political deal.
The majority of the team's members have expressed reservations with the Jubilee-ODM coalition.
They are torn between supporting Ruto or Raila.
Last month, the same group declared there is nothing that can stop the region from fielding a presidential candidate in August 9, 2022, poll.
On Saturday, the leaders from Mt Kenya and the diaspora counties of Nakuru and Laikipia held a key strategy meeting in Meru county, which was organised by Munya.
The meeting was skipped by all three governors from Mt Kenya East —Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi — and nearly all the MPs and MCAs.
Governors Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua) and Mwangi Wa Iria (Murang'a) and Nakuru Senator Susan Kahiga also skipped the meeting at Kenya Methodist University.
Reports indicate the Munya-led group could follow President Uhuru's directive and most probably back Raila.
On Wednesday Nakuru Governor Kinyanjui said their group has not settled on any of the presidential candidates.
He said their immediate concern is uniting the region and weighing the candidates who have GEMA's best interests at heart.
Speaking to the Star on the phone, Kinyanjui said they will look for a partner who is popular with the voters and who can win the presidential race.
The governor has been pushing for far-reaching reforms in the ruling party, including sacking of vice chairman David Murathe and secretary general Raphael Tuju.
“It is not the President to say take this direction or that. In such a scenario, you consult with the people and agree to go for the best. It will be unwise of us to lock the door and say we are supporting candidate A and not B," he said.
“You cannot just wake up and say we support so and so . We will have a sober conversation on 2022 succession politics. If we are fragmented, nobody will listen to you.
"Your stake is valued by numbers. If we get a progressive leader who has our interests at heart, who will take care of our businesses, we will partner with him or her,” he said.
But another group backing ANC boss Musalia Mudavadi. Most visible in this group is Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia.
Kimemia was the head of public service during President Mwai Kibaki's tenure. He is said to be among top government bureaucrats at the time who supported a Musalia presidency.
Image: ALICE WAITHERA
The other group is allied to Ruto.
It is comprised of a sizeable number of MPs and MCAs in the eight counties that make up Mt Kenya.
The DP has put in a lot of resources and time to have the region remain intact and vote him as a bloc as it did in the 2013 and 2017 for Jubilee.
Ruto allies believe the region should back the DP to reciprocate the support he and his Kalenjin community gave to Uhuru in the two elections.
Image: COURTESY
Then there is a group rooting for Raila to succeed Uhuru who is serving his second and last term.
The team said to have the blessings of the President include Jubilee Party vice chairman David Murathe, MPs Maoka Maore (Igembe North), Kanini Kega (Kieni ), Amos Kimunya (Kipipiri), Peter Mwathi (Limuru), Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa), Maina Kamanda (Nominated), Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri Town) and Rachel Shebesh (CAS).
Then there is Kiambu Governor James Nyoro and his Laikipia counterpart Nderitu Muriithi.
This group believes the former Prime Minister and Uhuru’s handshake partner is best suited to be the next President.
The group that is behind the plans for the ruling Jubilee Party and ODM to enter into a pre-2022 pact has started marketing Raila in Central.
The Central Kenya elite has historically portrayed Raila as a bogeyman, a divisive and vindictive figure who could destroy the Kikuyu nation.
Image: COURTESY
The other splinter group is that of leaders from Mt Kenya East coalescing around Muturi. It includes Governors Kiraitu Murungi (Meru), Martin Wambora (Embu) and Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi) who are pursuing a different route.
The leaders who have accused their Central Kenya counterparts of taking them for a ride are in the process of acquiring a new party they say will consolidate the region.
(Edited by V. Graham)