Women leaders from Mt. Kenya East have thrown their support behind Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, urging the wider Mt. Kenya region to unite behind him as its political leader and potential successor to President William Ruto.
Speaking in Embu on Thursday, the women drawn from Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties said they had resolved to back Kindiki, whom they described as the most suitable leader from the region to take over from President Ruto.
The group, led by Auma Irungu, accused some politicians from Mt. Kenya West of undermining the Deputy President despite calls for unity within the larger Mt. Kenya political bloc.
They warned that continued divisions could weaken the region’s bargaining power in national politics and affect its influence in future elections.
The women said Mt. Kenya should rally behind one of its own, arguing that a united region would strengthen its voice and enhance its ability to negotiate for development and leadership opportunities.
They further warned that failure by the wider Mt. Kenya region to support Kindiki could lead to discussions on political realignment, where like-minded counties from the East would pursue a separate political agenda.
According to the leaders, Kindiki’s position as Deputy President presents the region with an opportunity to consolidate its influence and play a key role in Kenya’s future leadership.
They called on political leaders to set aside personal differences and focus on unity, saying internal divisions would only weaken the community’s national standing.
Belinda Munene from Tharaka Nithi said Mt. Kenya East had supported leaders from other regions in the past and deserved similar backing now that one of its own was serving as Deputy President.
“We have been marginalized for many years, and we ask Mt. Kenya West to support us this time round now that we have one of our own as Deputy President, who has also ensured we have received a fair share of development projects,” said Munene.
The women also backed calls by some leaders from Mt. Kenya East to separate from the larger Mt. Kenya political bloc if their counterparts from the West continued opposing Kindiki.
During the meeting, the women symbolically tore apart a leso to represent a possible split between Mt. Kenya East and Mt. Kenya West should political differences persist.
By Samuel Waititu
