- Mt Kenya leaders are said to be eyeing the kingship mantle from Uhuru
- Njenga assured that vote-rich Mt Kenya region will have a presidential candidate in 2027 elections.
Politician Maina Njenga is the new self-proclaimed kingpin of vote-rich Mt Kenya region.
In an exclusive interview with the Star, the former Mungiki sect leader said he wants to be “the CEO” of Mt Kenya to solve problems that are bedevilling the region.
He said retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has been perceived to be the kingpin of the region, has opted to take a low profile while Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has distanced himself from the debate.
“When I say I want to be the CEO of Mt Kenya, it is because I want to solve the problems of the region,” he said.
Njenga said Gachagua has come out to say he is not interested in being the kingpin of the region because of the “heat” in Mt Kenya.
“Gachagua has given up because of the heat. He said he would build roads, fight Mungiki, alcoholism and cartels but he has not done it,” he added.
Mt Kenya leaders are said to be eyeing the kingship mantle from Uhuru.
However, Gachagua on Sunday rebuked proponents of the kingship battle narrative, insisting that he is less interested in such a position.
"I do not have time for that kingship nonsense, I don't have that time because I am very busy," Gachagua said on Sunday during a church service in Kiambu.
"This kingpin position, where is the office located, how much is the salary? If there are people who want that office, I'm not part of it because I am the deputy president. My office is located at Harambee House and Karen. There is a salary and a job to do."
Responding to Gachagua’s statement, Njenga said the Deputy President is a truthful man.
“When he says he has quit, for sure he has done so. When he says he does not want to be a kingpin, he means it,” Njenga added.
He however said Gachagua should learn to be a servant leader.
“As a leader, you have to be a servant. Do not say there is no salary; Jesus, Moses and even David did not have salaries. Watu ndio office,” he said.
Njenga said he has talked to Public Service CS Moses Kuria about his ambitions.
“I called Kuria and told him to attend my meeting in December even if he is a CS. As CEO and field marshall, I want to take control of Mt Kenya,” he added.
Njenga assured that vote-rich Mt Kenya region will have a presidential candidate in 2027 elections.
“We will have a presidential candidate during the next election. We are praying very hard that we have our own at the ballot in 2027.”
The announcement by Njenga signals the emergence of a parallel force that will challenge President Ruto at the ballot in 2027.
Mt Kenya has produced three of the four presidents since the country's independence (Founding father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru).
Even as Njenga assured of Mt Kenya candidacy, Gachagua has been vowing that his mission would be to win the unwavering support of the influential region, a bloc that was instrumental in Ruto's ascension to power.
Gachagua has been taking credit for delivering a substantial 87 per cent of the Mt Kenya votes to Ruto.
“I am looking for the 13 per cent which I lost to give Ruto 100 per cent of votes in the 2027 General Election,” Gachagua said at a church event in Kapsabet in October.
He emphasised that Ruto's path to victory, like his 2022 triumph, is dependent on a united front from Mt Kenya.
Njenga said his much-awaited meeting in Nyeri county on December 31, 2023, is still on.
The former Mugiki leader said Uhuru will be part of the leaders who will grace the occasion and chart the way forward for residents of the vote-rich region.
“The December 31, meeting is still there. We will close the year with new things,” Njenga told the Star.
He said those in attendance would include elders, the business community, members of the clergy, local politicians and leaders from other regions among other guests.
“Those who gave Uhuru the go ahead to lead the country will be there,” he said.
Reports indicate Uhuru will hand over the “kingship” to Njenga. Njenga however opted to remain quiet on the matter.
He said the event will be a mega one for the Mt Kenya region and would herald a new beginning.
“We will also have prayers to thank God for the peace we have enjoyed,” he said.
Njenga said his tribulations in the hands of police are linked to his new status
“They want to silence me because I said I am the chairman of Mt Kenya. When they hear that, they tremble,” he added.
Njenga said he calls for public meetings which are well-attended and he does not have pay from his pocket.
“As much as they give me a headache, they are hardening me,” he said.