- The forum was a follow-up of several regional meetings the leaders have been attending.
- They say talking in one voice will enable them to bargain at the national level
A section of Mt Kenya leaders allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta held a meeting with heads of political parties to consult on the unity of the region.
The closed-door meeting held at a Nairobi hotel was attended by representatives of 11 registered political parties.
The politicians included Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, her Laikipia counterpart Ndiritu Muriithi and Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni.
The meeting came a week after The Party of National Unity, the Democratic Party and Safina said they will be coming together to form a national coalition.
They emphasised that they are not a Mt Kenya coalition as they will work for the welfare of the entire nation. They did not say whether they would field a presidential candidate in 2022.
A nine-member committee, three from each party, was formed to work out issues and details of coalition-building. Muriithi, PNU trustee George Nyamweya, DP chairman Charles Kioni and representatives from Safina were among those who attended the August 18 meeting.
PNU national chairman David Kamau said the coalition would be open to other like-minded parties. He said it will push for social and economic reforms aimed at making Kenya a mid-level economy.
On Wednesday, Waiguru said the region is keen to fully participate in the national development agenda and the upcoming political dispensation.
Addressing the press after the meeting, which lasted for over five hours, Waiguru said the forum was a follow-up of several regional meetings they have been attending.
She said more meetings will be organised to forge a common goal in the region.
"We need to continue putting our people together to ensure we speak in one voice as a region in matters of social and economic aspects,” she said.
Waiguru reiterated that the unity of the Mt Kenya region will give the area leadership the bargaining power on national resources and representation.
She said Mt Kenya leaders were ready to meet with other stakeholders to ensure all ideas are incorporated in the leadership and development of the country.
“We have been meeting as politicians but we now want to expand and include the business community and everybody else so that when we talk about the unity of the region, we will be meaning what we say,” she said.
Governor Muriithi said the region is rich in resources, hence residents should lead a life worth their sweat.
His sentiments were echoed by Kioni who said farmers should be guaranteed better prices.
“The meeting is for the purpose of improving socio-economic issues of our area. Talking in one voice will enable us to bargain at the national level,” he said.
Recently at a forum in Laikipia, Waiguru said the region was open for talks with like-minded leaders who need their backing.