For the longest time, Mt Kenya has been told how ugly she is, with people chanting that the region should not seek higher positions of leadership, or the presidency, because it has held the positions too many times.
I have never heard the white Americans in the US stating that it’s time for a Mexican or Jew president because they have held the position for too long. So why do some people believe in this backward and retrogressive thinking? Does one choose which tribe, race or religion they are born into?
Presidents are chosen by God, and elected by His people. These leaders are not chosen because of their tribe or religion, rather based on what good they will do for the people that they serve.
Mt Kenya. like Cinderella, must not be made to believe that they are the ugly girl in the dance when they are, in fact, the most beautiful, with a flurry of suitors willing to do anything for their hand. The region is as much a key player as any other regions in this country and no one should tell its residents otherwise.
No one should believe these leaders, acting like Cinderella’s ugly sisters, telling Mt Kenya not to run for president, or that only a certain suitor will protect the region because it is the ugly girl. Bob Marley said it best, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery”. Mt Kenya needs a spiritual and cultural awakening.
I therefore posit that Mt Kenya should not remove the choice of another Kikuyu president from the table of options being considered. If the region goes into the 2022 election thinking that they can only be a second wife, then they should be ready to be sidelined politically, culturally and economically for the next 10 years.
Let a suitor state clearly what stake the region will have in the formation of government in exchange for setting aside all aspirations for president. Only then will the region get its fair share and representation of government after the 2022 election.
The impending exit of Uhuru from active politics in 2022 will mean that the Mt Kenya region must start looking for a successor who carries his will and support. But this race to get a suitable kingpin should not leave the region divided.
This is why anyone who wants to be president must continue engaging the region to ensure that Uhuru’s legacy is protected. Mt Kenya region needs an assurance that Uhuru’s legacy, as well as its interests, are protected after 2022. This is why the possibility of a president hailing from Mt Kenya should not be swept under the table.
The Kikuyu have a proverb that says; “Kamũhũthia kaharũrũkagia mwatũ”, which literally translates to “A little idleness causes the ruin of the beehive.” The proverb was used to encourage people to keep checking on their relations to ensure that they remain intact. As Kenya moves into the future, it is perhaps important that Mt Kenya seeks to apply this proverb.
Rift Valley, Coast, Western and even Northeastern should not pretend to tell Mt Kenya that its time is over. Mt Kenya must demand that everyone who thinks they deserve to work with the region comes to the table as an equal partner with no conditions.
