Over 2,000 Njuri Ncheke elders have announced their support for Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as their point man and link to President William Ruto and his administration.
The declaration is the latest blow to hit Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who has been running a campaign to rally the region behind him through his unity calls.
Gachagua being the second in command would have been expected to be the automatic link to the president and the region's point man as far as soliciting for projects from the government is concerned.
The move by Mt Kenya leaders and the elders to rally behind Kindiki now throws the DP into a treacherous path in his bid to be the region's kingpin.
While endorsing Kindiki, the elders said Kindiki has passed the Njuri Ncheke test for leadership.
They urged him to work with Ruto and bring development to the region as is the case in other parts of the country.
“We the Njuri Ncheke elders from the counties of Meru and Tharaka Nithi have gathered here in Njiru to say that Kithure Kindiki who has a cordial working relationship with our President William Ruto is our favourite," Njuri Ncheke chairman Adriano Aruyaru said.
"Today Njuri Ncheke in their numbers have endorsed him as our kingpin and spokesman. He will be our link as Mt Kenya East to President William Ruto."
The announcement by elders was made on Wednesday following a meeting to chart a way forward for the region.
This comes barely two weeks after several groups from the larger Mt Kenya region as well as Mt Kenya East backed Kindiki for the same role.
At least 69 Members of Parliament from the larger Mt Kenya region have endorsed Kindiki, 21 are from the counties of Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Embu.
The Mt Kenya leaders have also agreed to meet regularly to take stock of the progress and to review achievements and necessary interventions on critical issues that will be of concern to the people they represent.
The MPs said their efforts to consolidate development for the region have been frustrated previously.
This, they blamed on the lack of a focal point of reference around whom interests and priorities of the people could be channelled to for the government to actualize.
Over 500 elders and youths from Mt Kenya East also endorsed the Interior Cabinet Secretary to take up the role.
