Mt Kenya MCAs throw their weight behind Interior CS Kindiki

Some MCAs from Mt Kenya region have backed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure as their link to the Kenya Kwanza government.

The MCAs from Murang’a, Kiambu, Nairobi, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Isiolo, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties said they had faith in the CS and his ability to positively influence development in the region.

The ward legislators, who announced a closed-door meeting in a hotel in Murang’a, said they will be relying on the CS to better their welfare.

They said Kindiki’s position puts him in charge of coordinating national development and he has the ability to help them effect more growth at the grassroots.

Kirinyaga deputy speaker Njinaro Njamuno said having an intermediary between them and the national government would spur development by complementing county government efforts.

Their announcement came days after a group of MPs from the region expressed frustration as they lobbied for development projects and supported the CS as their focal point to channel their concerns on development.

The MCAs said, just like the MPs, they had realised the need to form a united and coordinated push for development.

“As MCAs elected through the UDA party from this region, we support the President’s bid to ensure there is equitable development that improves the lives of Kenyans in all parts of the country,” Njamuno said.

The county legislators underscored the need to have the interests of the region pushed within government as the state fast-tracks completion of stalled projects started by the previous administration.

Njamuno, who is the Mutithi MCA in Murang'a, said there was a need to ensure development is effected in a manner that preserves unity, and any attempt to divide the country along parochial ethnic lines was irresponsible.

Isiolo county assembly’s speaker Mohammed Roba said they had decided to join their counterparts from the Mt Kenya region in supporting Kindiki as their link to the national government.

“We are sure that through him we will benefit from more development and have stalled projects completed,” he said.

The main role of ward representatives was to ensure development got to the grassroots in line with the bottom-up development agenda.

The decision to support the CS, Roba added, was in no way meant to slight other leaders but was necessitated by Kindiki's mandate to coordinate all national government projects.

Chinga MCA Kiruka Thuku said among the decisions arrived at was the agreement that MCAs would be fully involved in development.

“As MCAs, we frequently interact with residents and understand their most pressing needs.”

But a section of MCAs who attended the meeting stormed out and distanced themselves from the announcement, urging that all leaders should be included.

The endorsement further puts CS Kindiki at loggerheads with deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is the presumed Mt Kenya kingpin.