A fresh wave of political rivalry is emerging in the Mount Kenya region, with sharp criticism directed at those attacking former President Uhuru Kenyatta in the scramble for influence over the bloc’s estimated eight million votes.
In a strongly worded statement, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba cautioned against what she described as entitlement politics adding that no single party or politician holds the monopoly over the region’s support.
“It’s disheartening to see mountain people attacking each other for political competition; this entitlement is too much! Before DCP, there was Jubilee UDA, DP and others. Nobody has the monopoly of the eight million mountain votes. We said before, hatupangwingwi! Uhuru Kenyatta is the undisputed Kingpin of the mountain, and he didn’t force it on us,” Wamuchomba said in a statement.
She praised Uhuru as the undisputed kingpin of the mountain, noting that the former president never imposed his leadership on the people.
“He unified the country. He is now at liberty to bless anybody to take over from him even if it’s not me.”
The legislator questioned why critics would want to inherit a political party they had previously discredited, warning against continued attacks on Uhuru. She linked such criticism to disrespect for Kiambu and the country.
“Attacking Uhuru is despising Kiambu and Kenya at large. Let it be clear, you attack Uhuru; you attack Kiambu County, and we are watching. This trajectory of demeaning leaders must not be allowed. Uhuru is admired by all and is a statesman. We should all work hard to outdo him,” she added.
She dismissed claims that Uhuru was betraying the region by associating with former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.
The remarks come amid criticism from some quarters over Uhuru’s continued political involvement.
Uhuru, who has been largely quiet since leaving office in 2022, made headlines last week, after addressing the Jubilee NDC, where he urged unity within the party while reaffirming its place in Kenya’s political landscape.
In his address, Uhuru announced plans to embark on a nationwide "meet the people” tour, signaling his renewed involvement in the Jubilee Party’s grassroots mobilization ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The retired President expressed concerns over government changes to programmes he said previously benefited millions of Kenyans.
“Today, many of the gains we had in the past have been eroded. Linda Mama and others were replaced by new, untried, untested schemes. And while we wait for these experiments to work, Kenyans suffer and our progress is retarded,” he told delegates.
Uhuru questioned the direction of national leadership, even as he called for a return to inclusive, vision-driven politics.
Uhuru said the initiative aims to strengthen connections between Jubilee leaders and their constituents while charting a clear path forward for the party.
“I will now dedicate myself because we said we want to start a recruitment drive and begin traveling to the grassroots. In every area, let us meet with you and talk together.”
The retired President expressed concerns over government changes to programmes he said previously benefited millions of Kenyans.
“Today, many of the gains we had in the past have been eroded. Linda Mama and others were replaced by new, untried, untested schemes. And while we wait for these experiments to work, Kenyans suffer and our progress is retarded,” he told delegates.
Uhuru questioned the direction of national leadership, even as he called for a return to inclusive, vision-driven politics.
However, this did not sit well with a section of leaders allied to President William Ruto as they told off the former President saying he should retire from politics.
