Gatundu North MP Njoroge Karuria speaks during a public forum in Karatu village within Kiambu county, August 6, 2025. /SCREENGRAB
Kiambu legislators are now demanding autonomy from the larger Mt Kenya region, arguing that such a move would grant the county access to an enhanced share of national resources.
They contend that Kiambu is extremely populous and deserving of separation from sister counties Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Laikipia.
“We have about 1.5 million votes, equal to votes of the other four counties combined. We don’t want the President to be saying he has been to Kiambu when he visits Mt Kenya,” Gatundu North MP Njoroge Karuria said.
“Kiambu we are a stand-alone region, we want our own development, plans, our ministers, PSs and our own money,” he added.
The MPs, led by Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe, spoke during a public forum in Karatu village within the county.
They stressed that Kiambu has unique needs driven by rapid urbanisation and high population density.
“Kiambu is cosmopolitan just like Nairobi, a lot of people have moved to stay here. For instance, in Ruiru, we have eight wards, that’s equivalent to like five counties elsewhere. Even Kiambu is equivalent to like six counties and after Nairobi, we have the most votes,” Kiambu Woman Representative Anne Wamuratha said.
Other MPs backing the push include Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika Town), Njunguna Kawanjiku (Kiambaa) and Githua Wamacukuru (Kabete).
Kagombe said future policies must reflect population-driven demands and the pressures of urban development.
He argued that people from satellite counties have set up businesses in Kiambu due to its developed infrastructure and growth potential.
“The way we distribute funds and send more to Nairobi is because they have more needs. In the same breath, the second region to have a bigger share of resources should be Kiambu. We say that because we need more roads, lots of water and many power substations because the population is high. This is a well-known fact,” Kagombe said.
The push mirrors the one-man-one-shilling debate that stirred controversy after a section of Mt Kenya leaders argued the current revenue-sharing formula fails to account for population.
The idea sought to ensure that counties with larger populations receive a proportionally larger share of national revenue, rather than being disadvantaged by historical or geographical considerations.
Advocates of the slogan drew inspiration from Article 81 of the constitution, which underscores the equality of votes and the principle that each vote should carry equal weight.
