Nine political leaders drawn from the Mt.Kenya region met for a 4-hour political ‘lunch’ session that was rich in 2022 succession symbolism.
National assembly speaker Justin Muturi convened the meeting, ostensibly to congratulate Kipipiri MP Amos Kimunya on his appointment as Majority Leader in the August House.
The meeting which brought together a Cabinet Secretary, four governors, a senator and a former presidential hopeful was bigger in what was not said publicly.
Two-time National Assembly speaker Justin Muturi was the convener of the lunchtime meeting at a city hotel attended exlusively by political bigwigs drawn from the Mt.Kenya region, betraying the meeting’s real agenda.
To a keen political eye, the 4-hour meeting was more than just celebrating the appointment of Amos Kimunya, to replace Aden Duale as National Assembly Majority Leader.
Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi who was in attendance nearly let the cat out of the bag saying:
“Going forward, with BBI coming and 2022 also ahead, it is to have holders like Kimunya leading the August House…we believe that he will give strong support to the speaker of national assembly, especially in the two very interesting years ahead of us, “he said.
The vote rich Mt. Kenya region has been the epicentre of high voltage politics, with president Uhuru Kenyatta’s two-term state house tenure in its sunset.
The scramble for his succession has sparked heightened political activity, with the ruling Jubilee party split into two factions; kieleweke and tanga tanga.
Already, Deputy President William Ruto has been making inroads in the region, and MPs allied to him have been on the receiving end, with President Kenyatta cracking the whip on the perceived errant members, as he seeks to wrestle control of the party from his number two.
The lunchtime meeting, according to a source in attendance, was to strategise on Mt. kenya Region political unity and solidify its numerical strength in the 2022 gameplan.
“What makes something political is if the players are political…even if there is a football match being played by politicians, it becomes political…the same principle applies for our lunch, because it was being eaten by politician,” Kiraitu added.
With talk of an expanded executive in the Building Bridges Initiative(BBI), the meeting was strategic, even though some leaders from the region who were left out have dismissed its worth.
“We are not claiming any special position or any special interest for Mt. Kenya region for now, we want to fight for Kenya, that’s the president’s position,” Kiraitu reiterated.
Cabinet Secretaries and other top Government officials have been touring the Mt. Kenya region, inspecting development projects, for launching by the president, in response to MPs allied to his deputy, who accuse him of neglecting his political backyard.
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