A majority of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s allies from Mt Kenya skipped a crucial meeting on Tuesday where ODM leader Raila Odinga was declared the best bet for the region in the 2022 presidential race.
Lifting the lid on the splits, fears and suspicions that have rocked the vote-rich region, most of the Jubilee’s Kielweke faction leading lights were a no show at the meeting held in Gatanga constituency, Murang’a county on Tuesday.
The Star has established that all the leaders who have been leading anti-Deputy President William Ruto's campaigns in the region and support the handshake between the President and the former Prime Minister had all been invited.
However, only a handful showed up at the politically symbolic event that took place at the home of businessman SK Macharia in Ndakaini.
Raila was the chief guest at the Skiza Thanksgiving Ceremony but 2022 politics dominated the event where speaker after speaker endorsed Raila as the best man to succeed Uhuru.
Other than the host MP Joseph Nduati (Gatanga) and his Kigumo counterpart Ruth Mwaniki, the rest of the elected leaders kept off the function.
The county has seven constituencies -Kangema, Kiharu, Mathioya, Kigumo, Kandara, Maragua and Gatanga.
Kangema MP Muturi Kigano, Mary Wamaua (Maragua) as well as Sabina Chege (county Representative) all strong supporters of the handshake stayed away from the function that was attended by several ODM MPs and governors.
The other MPs -Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Alice Wahome (Kandara) and Senator Irungu Kang’ata are allies of the DP.
Chege who has declared that she will be in the gubernatorial race in 2022 told the Star that she was within the county but was attending the burial of county residents who perished in a road accident.
“I could not make it to the function because I had other engagements. I attended the burial of four women who died in a road accident,” she told the Star in a phone interview.
From Nyeri county, only Kieni MP Kanini Kega attended while from the larger Mt Kenya East(Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi) Igembe North MP Maoka Maore was the only notable politician.
There was no members of the National Assembly or the Senate from Nyandarua, Kiambu, Kirinyaga and the two diaspora counties of Nakuru and Laikipia.
Confidants of President Uhuru such as National Assembly Majority leader Amos Kimunya, Limuru MP Peter Mwathi, Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa) and Kielweke founder and Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu also avoided the function.
Kioni had on Tuesday morning told the Star that he could not be available since he had a pre-planned parliamentary meeting in Mombasa.
The MP who chairs Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee in the National Assembly however said: "he was keenly following the proceedings of the meeting and the resolutions".
"I am on my way to Mombasa for a committee meeting," he told the Star on phone.
Nairobi County was represented in the day-long politically significant meeting by nominated MP Maina Kamada and Waihenya Ndirangu (Roysambu).
Host governor Mwangi wa Iria and his counterparts Nderitu Muriithi (Laikipia), Ann Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and James Nyoro (Kiambu) who declared that they will support Raila in 2022 were present.
Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui and his Nyeri counterpart Mutahi Kahiga as well as Francis Kimemia of Nyandarua stayed away from the meeting which was also attended by Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.
Kimemia is leaning towards ANC party leader and 2022 presidential hopeful Musalia Mudavadi while Kahiga is reported to have a soft spot for the DP.
Curiously, the event was also skipped by all Cabinet Secretaries from the region such as James Macharia (Transport), Mutahi Kagwe (Health) Sicily Kariuki (Water), Peter Munya (Agriculture ) Margarate Kobia (Public Service ) and Joe Mucheru (ICT).