Pressure is mounting on Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to take up a more active role in the leadership of the Mt Kenya region following reports of dismal turnout in the ongoing voter registration exercise.
Leaders and analysts say the region is in unfamiliar territory since the return of multiparty democracy some 30 years ago. It is the first time Mt Kenya does not have a strong presidential contender.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria have declared their interest in the top seat but still trail in opinion polls.
Speaking to the Star, some leaders said this has led to the apathy that “could result in the region becoming completely disenfranchised”.
Nyumba Kumi chairman Joseph Kaguthi told the Star that Kagwe had the capacity to lead central Kenya so that they "stop behaving as if they have no stake in the coming elections".
"Our region has become the main hunting ground for anyone interested in the presidency. We are hearing of endless meetings with leading candidates, but nothing about who will represent us when it comes to sharing the national cake," Kaguthi said.
The former provincial administrator added that the Health CS was best suited for the role as he draws an audience from both the young and the old.
Former Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru holds a similar view. He says the entry of a serious contender to the race from the region, either as a presidential candidate or a running mate for a leading contender, would reenergise the region and stop the prevailing apathy.
"We are not used to being mere observers in the political process. What the Mt Kenya Foundation is doing is good—finding out what the leading candidates have to offer the region—but there isn't enough discussion about who will fight for our people in the next government. If Kagwe is the man, let him come out now, otherwise, we (will) end up with a 'B' team representing us," the Building Bridges Initiative Secretariat co-chair said.
But when reached for comment, Kagwe refused to be specific about his political plans.
"You know the job I have been asked by His Excellency the President to do. It would be very unfair to him, and indeed to the people of Kenya if I started discussing politics today. The time for that will come," he said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Mt Kenya backyard has reported the lowest turnout in the ongoing mass voter listing initiated by the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission last Monday.
IEBC data show that seven counties from the region’s 10 are among those with the lowest percentages of the new voter targets.
A number of Rift Valley counties were in the top 10, including Elgeyo Marakwet, with seven per cent registered. Nandi, Baringo and Narok are at seven per cent each.
In the previous registration cycles, the Mt Kenya region led in the uptake, sometimes registering way beyond the expectations of the IEBC—exactly the opposite of what is happening now.
Whereas the IEBC targets over 385,000 new voters in Kiambu, only 2,334 was recorded in the first week, translating into one per cent.
Nyeri recorded 1,915 of the target 148,995 voters, which is also one per cent. Nyandarua recorded 1,495 from a county target of 109,652 new voters.
Murang’a reported 3,259 new voters of the targeted 191,545, with Laikipia listing 1,664 from a target of 80,231 new voters.
Embu and Kirinyaga counties recorded 2,102 and 2,376 new voters, respectively.
Analysts have projected that the succession race could be heavily determined by the first-time voters.
Over the past two weeks, leaders under the Mt Kenya Foundation have held talks with ODM leader Raila Odinga and separately with the One Kenya Alliance.
OKA is made up of ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Kanu chairman Gideon Moi and UDP's Cyrus Jirongo.
Among those who represented the region in those meetings were MKF chairman Peter Munga and Lapsset boss Titus Ibui. The Raila meeting was much better attended than the OKA one.
Kagwe has been seen as one of the best-suited politicians to take up a bigger role in leading the region to the negotiation table ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Some have cited his experience in government, his perceived political finesse and his influence and popularity across the region.
Kagwe worked as a minister under President Mwai Kibaki and has been in the lead in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic as the Health CS.
While he has not openly declared his interest in any position, he is believed to be angling for the mantle of Mt Kenya leadership after President Kenyatta’s term ends.
He has also been mentioned as a possible presidential contender or a running mate to any of the leading candidates.
Kagwe has been mentioned as a possible running mate of ODM leader Raila Odinga, whose popularity in the region seems to be on the rise overshadowing the dominance of Deputy President William Ruto.
