A section of Mt. Kenya youth leaders affiliated to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has asked former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to stop “masquerading” as the regional spokesperson.
Under the umbrella of Mt. Kenya UDA Youth League, the young people maintained that Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki was the legitimate voice of the Mt. Kenya region and asked Gachagua to respect him.
Speaking during a press briefing on Sunday in Embu town, the youth said the outcome of the just-concluded Mbeere North By-election had clearly demonstrated the region’s political direction.
They argued that the Constituency’s choice of ruling UDA’s candidate was “a direct endorsement” of Prof. Kindiki’s leadership in the region.
“The victory of Leonard Wa Muthende, who was supported by DP Kindiki, and who won against Newton Kariuki, backed by Gachagua, was a decisive statement that the mountain was behind Kindiki,” said Peterson Mirichii, who is the Youth League Chair.
He said the Mbeere North contest was not a mere By-election, but a referendum on who Mt. Kenya trusts to steer its political future, saying the people spoke loudly that Kindiki was the man for the job.
The leaders dismissed Gachagua’s regional mobilization, accusing him of creating unnecessary division.
“Any individual posturing and masquerading as the Mt. Kenya kingpin without the people’s mandate is misleading the public”, he said.
They further praised the UDA’s overall performance in the recent By-elections, noting that the Party secured 12 out of 24 seats nationally, saying the victory reaffirmed the UDA’s dominance in Kenya’s political space.
The youth leaders also applauded Prof. Kindiki for what they described as his decisive and unifying leadership.
“He has proven himself a stabilizer and the principal leader of the region. The people have endorsed him, and we stand firmly behind him,” Mirichii said.
They called on local leaders and residents to set aside “political factionalism” and rally behind the region’s collective agenda, while calling out on those who secured their win through the UDA banner in the last election, but were now advancing another party’s agenda.
“Those advancing opposition agenda under UDA colors must return home, recommit, or honorably resign,” the Chair said.
Samuel Kinyua, another youth leader, urged young people across the Mt. Kenya counties to join the party’s youth wing, take up leadership roles, and help build a policy-driven, future-oriented movement.
By Samuel Waititu
