- The MCAs said Kindiki will be their focal point and link to the national government on matters of their welfare, leadership and region’s development.
- The ward reps said the ongoing political bickering in Mt Kenya is largely informed by lack of leadership within the region.
Image: MINA
A number of MCAs drawn from at least 12 counties have settled on Interior CS Kithure Kindiki as their link to President William Ruto, further isolating Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The ward reps made the announcement barely a week after some 60 MPs from Mt Kenya region and Nairobi broke ranks with Gachagua and declared their allegiance to Kindiki.
The MCAs, who convened in Murang’a, said Kindiki will be their focal point and link to the national government on matters of their welfare, leadership and region’s development.
“We have confidence in Kindiki’s competence, experience and capacity to advance our region’s development needs together with the interests of all the other regions, resulting in a country that develops as a whole, for the prosperity and benefit of all our citizens,” they said in a statement.
The MCAs were drawn from Murang’a, Kiambu, Laikipia, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties.
Some from Nairobi and Isiolo also threw their weight behind Kindiki.
They said proper coordination with the national government will help supplement the input of county governments and accelerate development in the next three years of Ruto’s first term in office.
“We register our unequivocal support for President Ruto in his pursuit for equitable development of the Country, and improving the livelihoods of the Kenyan people,” they added.
Meanwhile, Kirinyaga Governor who is also the Council of Governors chairperson, Anne Waiguru, distanced herself from the meeting after a section of the MCAs said they had been informed she would attend the meeting.
Waiguru said she neither played part in convening the meeting nor was she consulted by anyone over the agenda.
In a statement on her X account Wednesday, the governor said the welfare issue, which was the main agenda at the meeting, was already being addressed.
"The Journey with MCAs has been long and arduous. It finally culminated with a forum hosted by the President in March 2024. Following these deliberations, their welfare commitment has been addressed to SRC to adjust their job group," she said.
The CoG chair added that the ward reps' demand for county assemblies to be given autonomy has also been committed to the Senate and is undergoing the necessary legislative processes.
She said the issue on their contributory pension is also being addressed.
"We will continue to pursue these together to empower the county assemblies to execute their mandate and ensure devolution is effective for the good of mwananchi. This is in line with the Distinct Function of Devolved Governments," Waiguru said.
A section of MCAs distanced themselves from the resolution to back Kindiki and echoed Waiguru's sentiments saying they don't need an intermediary for their welfare to be addressed by the government.
"Whatever is being propagated here is not correct because it is being indicated that for MCAs' welfare to be taken care of, it must go through Prof Kithure Kindiki which is unjustified because MCAs should get their welfare without going through any broker because it is their right," the group said.
Waiguru also addressed claims of her being endorsed for the deputy presidency in the 2027 general election terming it premature discussion.
She said everyone should continue serving Kenyans in the offices they were elected and deliver on the Kenya Kwanza promises "so that we can all go back to the people in 2027".
Back to the Murang'a meeting, the MCAs present said they support the proposal by MPs from the Mt Kenya region on the need to front a united and a coordinated push for development.
A vast majority of the MCAs were elected on UDA ticket in the 2022 general election while some were elected on political parties that support Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The ward reps said the ongoing political bickering in Mt Kenya is largely informed by lack of leadership within the region.
MPs, led by National Assembly majority leader, Kimani Ichung'wah, and Finance committee chairperson, Kuria Kimani, said they’re breaking ranks with Gachagua because “Mt Kenya region risks suffering lack of development with stalled projects”.