Three Governors from the Mt. Kenya region have endorsed National Assembly speaker Justin Muturi’s quest to be the spokesperson of the region contrary to their counterparts from Kikuyu community.
The governors of Meru (Kiraitu Murungi), Tharaka Nithi(Muthomi Njuki) and Embu (Martin Wambora), and Embu Senator (Lenny Kivuti) met the speaker ahead of his coronation at the Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga shrine in Murang’a County on Saturday, May 22.
In a joint press statement seen by Kivumbi.co.ke, the three governors and a senator said that Muturi is the right man, steady enough to help President Uhuru Kenyatta deliver to Mt Kenya people.
“In Speaker Justin Muturi we have a man of his word, a respectable gentleman with the Mt Kenya community at his heart,
“The Governors took notice of the close working relationship that Speaker Muturi has had with President Kenyatta and therefore we trust urged him to do everything possible to help President Kenyatta deliver to the people of Kenya and Mt. Kenya in particular,” read the joint press statement.
The governors who held talks with Speaker Justin Muturi uniformly endorsed his bid ahead of his coronation ceremony on May 22.
“Mt. Kenya region needs to be at the political high table where the destiny of the nation will be negotiated it’s important to have a trusted pair of hands and a man who believes in fairness,
“That man is Speaker Justin Muturi who hails from the East of the Mountain,” they said.
However, Muturi’s coronation ceremony has faced backlash from other leaders from the Mt. Kenya region.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru dismissed the bid, saying that president Uhuru was still the community’s spokesperson, and neither residents nor leaders from central had agreed to endorse Muturi.
Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria was also irked by Muturi’s plans, vowing to block the ceremony from taking place at the Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga shrine which is under his jurisdiction.
He said that the shrine was a protected place, and he would not allow it to be used for political purposes.
Former presidential aspirant Peter kenneth has also expressed his reservations with regards to Muturi’s quest to be Mt Kenya political spokesperson after Uhuru retires.
Uhuru is expeted to retire in after the August 2022 General Election, having served his two constitutionally mandated terms as president.
Upon the retirement of former president Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru took over as the Mt Kenyapolitical kingpin, a positiuon that will fall vacant when he exits office.
It however appears there is a tug of war between politicians from Kikuyu nation and those from Meru/Embu nation, both who hail from the larger Mt Kenya region.
