Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang'ata /HANDOUT
Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata has defended his decision to join the Linda Mwananchi movement, saying the country must move away from regional and tribal politics and focus on issues affecting all Kenyans.
Kang'ata dismissed suggestions that his appearance alongside opposition leaders signalled a betrayal of the Mount Kenya region.
He, however, said the movement offers a platform for leaders to unite around common national concerns.
"I view Linda like the free market of Kenyan politics, where there are no barriers of entry and barriers of exit. Come in, get out, as you wish," Kang'ata said.
The governor said his participation in the movement was intended to send a message that leaders should think beyond their regions and work together to address challenges facing the country.
Kang'ata said Kenya's political discourse should shift from ethnic and regional interests to issue-based politics.
"We must think beyond our regions. We must think of ourselves as Kenyans. When Parliament passes huge taxes, they are not written on Mount Kenya or Nyanza. They affect all Kenyans equally. When we have unemployment, it is not written Murang'a, it is written Kenyan," he said.
"When you talk about failure to fund education adequately, it's about every Kenyan child going to school. Once we evolve as a society where we look at politics as issues, as opposed to a region or a tribe, we'll be much ahead.”
The governor also welcomed calls by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna for cooperation with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, saying leaders should embrace unity for the benefit of the country.
"Well, it's good. It's the right thing to do. We need to unite as Kenyans, and there was no better opportunity for us to show that unity than Thika because I come from that region," Kang'ata said.
He noted that his presence at the rally was also meant to demonstrate that residents of the Mount Kenya region appreciate the issues being championed by Linda Mwananchi leaders.
"I wanted the Linda leaders to know that whatever they are fighting for, people do appreciate it from where I come from," he said.
However, he remained non-committal on his future political vehicle, declining to say whether he would join the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) associated with Gachagua.
"I will discuss where I will vie later, not now," he said.
Kang'ata's appearance at the Thika rally marked a significant political shift for the governor, who has long been associated with President William Ruto and the ruling United Democratic Alliance.
The rally came barely a month after Kang'ata announced that he would not seek re-election as governor on a UDA ticket, citing differences in political strategy, citizen engagement and policy priorities.
At the time, he maintained that his decision was not personal and thanked President Ruto for their long political association dating back to 2013 when he was elected Kiharu MP.
