Machakos governor Alfred Mutua has claimed Kenya’s deputy president William Ruto has managed to divide Mt Kenya region, something late president Daniel Moi failed to do in his entire 24 years in power.
In an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday, June 17, the Maendeleo Chap Chap party leader said Ruto is the current most popular politician in the Mt Kenya region.
“Let me just say we have to give William Rut credit because he has managed to do what (late Daniel) Moi failed to do and that was to fracture the Mt Kenya region. For a long time, Moi tried to divide the Mt. Kenya region but failed,” The Machakos governor said.
Mutua who has expressed his ambitions to succeed retiring President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 2022 General Election also claimed he is the second most popular politician in the Mt Kenya region.
It is understood that the GEMA region, which is the country’s biggest voting bloc appears divided between the Kieleweke and Tanga Tanga factions.
Kieleweke led by nominated MP Maina Kamanda is allied to Uhuru and Raila whereas the Tanga Tanga faction led by Kiharu legislator Ndindi Nyoro is leaning towards William Ruto.
The region is further split between the East of Mt Kenya comprising of Meru, Embu, and Mbeere communities and the West which basically comprises the Kikuyu community following the crowing on National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as the region’s spokesperson.
Although Ruto has managed to fracture the region, analysts think the rift in the region seems to give Raila an added advantage over his main competitor William Ruto.
According to Herman Manyora, as leaders fail to agree on their political path, it is Raila who stands to benefit since the widening rift in the region is doomed to work against Ruto in his quest for the presidency.