At least leaders of seven political parties with a presence in the central region are meeting today in Thika, Kiambu County over 2022 GEMA unity.
While sources insinuate that the talks are aimed at forming a formidable coalition ahead of the 2022 General Election, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria on Monday, August 16, said they want to organize themselves.
Kuria read malice in the recently held meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta, ODM leader, and the One Kenya Alliance principals at Mombasa State House lodge over suspected 2022 succession matrix saying none from Mt Kenya region was represented.
“We are meeting to discuss the future of our region. We saw Uhuru meet a group of politicians in Mombasa recently and none of them was from our region; we must organize ourselves, we want to chart a course for our people,” Kuria said as quoted by the Standard.
Others party leaders expected to attend the meeting include former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti (Rebuild and Restore Party), Esau Kioni of the Democratic Party (DP), Mpuru Apuri (National Ordinary People Empowerment Union, NOPEU), and Thuo Mathenge (The New Democrats).
Last week, Karua, Kiunjuri, and Kuria initiated reconciliation talks of Mt Kenya leaders to avert further split on the Mt Kenya region which has been divided between the Kieleweke (those supporting President Uhuru’s handshake) and Tanga Tanga (those allied to Deputy President William Ruto).
In a joint statement read by Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua, the trio said they are planning to form an inter-parties forum comprising all political parties with a presence in the Mt Kenya region to consolidate the region’s votes into one basket to increase their negotiation powers ahead of 2022 presidential election.
“We have given ourselves three months to consolidate the Mt Kenya vote into one basket before we agree and sit at a roundtable with other leaders from different regions with whom we share a common goal and manifesto,” they said.
