Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was on Sunday denounced Mt Kenya succession politics over fears the debate was widening cracks in the ruling coalition.
There are reports that the President has not been happy with succession wars raging in Mt Kenya at a time when his administration is confronting multiple challenges.
In recent weeks, the region has been engulfed in vicious squabbles as leaders tussle over its de facto political shepherd following the retirement of Former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The war is said to have been pitting Gachagua on one hand and a section of youthful politicians from the region amid concerns that the tussles could jolt President William Ruto's support.
Analysts have observed that the raging debate would have eclipsed the government's agenda and escalated tensions among Kenya Kwanza political bigwigs from the region.
Gachagua was crucial in Ruto's victory, especially with his aggressive anti-Uhuru narrative, but others say his entry as running mate in 2022 did not mean a lot as Ruto was still popular.
Those holding this school of thought including youthful politicians who backed Ruto's campaigns, believe that Uhuru's exit as the region's kingpin should open room for competition.
"The issue is that Gachagua is facing a lot of resistance from within as the presumed kingpin given his seniority in government," political analyst Peterson Njoroge said.
The analyst said it was important for Gachagua to state his mind after speculations swirled that he was fighting against junior politicians from the region.
"The perception was that if he kept quiet then people like Kuria would have their narrative gain credence," he said.
On Sunday, the DP rebuked proponents of the kingship battle narrative, insisting that he is less interested in a position that he said is not provided for in the Constitution.
"I do not have time for that kingpin ship nonsense, I don't have that time because I am very busy," Gachagua said on Sunday during a church service in his Kiambu backyard.
"This kingpin position, where is the office located, how much is the salary? If there are people who want that office, I'm not part of it because I am the deputy president. My office is located in Harambee House and Karen. There is a salary and a job to do."
There have been fears that the sustained squabbles over the kingpin of Mt Kenya could further widen cracks in the region and thrust in Ruto.
Ruto had last week weighed in on the debate and rubbished squabbles for regional political kingship saying they had been suspended because the King himself was around.
The President made King Charles III for a banquet at the State House on Tuesday evening.
After the King left, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria sent out a cryptic message to key political players in the country.
The CS who is known for never mincing his words said on Saturday that tribal kingpins who have been wrestling for the control of regions can now take to the stage.
"Sasa venye King amerudi kwao (Now that King Charles III is back in England), fake Kingpins you can take over," CS Kuria said on his X account without naming anyone.
The remarks came at a time when Kuria has been linked to supremacy battles pitting key Mt Kenya leaders even as the region appears unsettled on who its political pointman is.
Although Gachagua on Sunday said he does not have time for "that kingpin nonsense", he had recently escalated activities that pointed to his intention to succeed Uhuru.
For instance, the DP had told the region that he was willing and ready to work with his detractors and even extended an olive branch to Uhuru and his allies.
He had also asked the region to remain united, saying he would deliver 100 per cent of its votes to Ruto in 2027.
Political analyst Alexander Nyamboga said it was now obvious that Kuria and Gachagua are engaged in some political fights.
"For the DP to have made that statement it means that the centre can no longer hold and that both Gachagua and Kuria are not seeing eye to eye,'" he said.
The university don said that Kuria could be aligning himself with a faction that is behind the president after he folded his party and joined UDA.
"It is about factional wars in the government, which point to a bigger picture of widening cracks," he said.
Kuria's recent signals have exposed silent political undercurrents roiling the succession battle in Mt Kenya.
This battle for regional Kingship has seen CS Kuria blame it for the ouster bid of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
"This is an evil scheme by someone who thinks that the only way to be a Mt Kenya Kingpin is to bring down other leaders not to solve the problems of our people who are getting desperate by the day. History will vindicate me," Kuria posted on his X account.
Kuria has previously disagreed with DP Gachagua and even at one point posted a photo of him without a caption following recent cabinet changes by President Ruto.
Observers say that Gachagua, who is the region’s most senior political leader, is facing a revolt from youthful politicians with the exit of Kuria now expected to streamline the succession.
It was assumed that after his victory as the country’s second in command, Gachagua would take over the region’s leadership mantle from the retired president and rally the region together.
However, it has emerged that the exit of Uhuru left behind a leadership vacuum that has triggered divisions among politicians, threatening the region’s future political prospects.
Besides Kuria, youthful politicians like Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah have been touted to succeed Uhuru.
Some of Uhuru's allies are planning a major gathering in December to reportedly affirm their support for him as the region's de facto leader.
Another team is pushing for a handshake between Gachagua and Uhuru to end the squabbles in Mt Kenya.