Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has dismissed claims that he is seeking to divide the Mt Kenya region into Mt Kenya East and Mt Kenya West, saying his remarks are aimed at highlighting longstanding disparities in development and representation.
Speaking during an interview with NTV, Ruku said he was only stating the reality on the ground regarding differences in infrastructure development between the two sides of the region, rather than attempting to create divisions.
“I am not splitting the mountain. I am just saying the truth of how things are as far as the region is concerned,” Ruku said.
The CS said communities from across Mt Kenya had historically worked together, including during the struggle for independence and in supporting successive governments.
“We fought for the independence of the country together as the mountain. We have been in government together in past regimes and even this administration,” he said.
However, Ruku argued that despite the shared history, there were significant disparities in the distribution of development projects, particularly infrastructure, which he said had left parts of Mt Kenya East disadvantaged.
He cited differences in road construction and electricity connectivity as examples of what he described as unequal treatment within the region.
“If you look at the distribution of infrastructure, roads in Mt Kenya, the number of kilometres of tarmacked roads, you will find 77.7 per cent of all the roads constructed in Mt Kenya region are in Mt Kenya West,” he said.
Ruku contrasted electricity connectivity in different counties, saying Kiambu had achieved about 90 per cent connectivity while some counties in Mt Kenya East continued to lag behind.
“In Kiambu County, electricity connection is about 90 per cent. But in Tharaka Nithi County, you will ask yourself, are we in the same region?” he posed.
He said the push for greater recognition of Mt Kenya East was not about breaking the region apart but addressing what he termed historical inequalities.
“This perpetual unfair treatment is what I say has to come to an end,” Ruku said.
The Cabinet Secretary has in recent months advocated for Mt Kenya East, comprising Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties, to pursue its own political and development interests rather than automatically following the political direction of Mt Kenya West.
Ruku has argued that the eastern side of the mountain has often supported political positions championed by Mt Kenya West but has not received comparable benefits in terms of development and political influence.
“We, the people from Mt Kenya East, have supported Mt Kenya West time and again,” he said.
