The Mountain vote: The West, East gamble

The scramble for Mt Kenya voting bloc on Sunday went a notch higher following a verbal exchange between Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and his predecessor Rigathi Gachagua, regarding the unity of the region.

While Mr Gachagua accused Prof Kindiki of a scheme to divide the mountain into East and West ahead of the August 2027 General Election, the DP fired back, saying nobody was interested in splitting the region.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku is championing the split, arguing that the Mt Kenya West had refused to support Prof Kindiki as he positions himself to retain the running mate position in President William Ruto’s 2027  re-election bid. The CS has been accused of speaking for his “masters”, interpreted to mean Prof Kindkiki and President Ruto.

The CS is pushing for political autonomy of the East that comprise Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi, claiming that he will mobilise more than three million votes from the region in support of President William Ruto’s re-election bid.

Dr Ruto is facing opposition from Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua and parts of Laikipia, which are in the west of the mountain.

According to political analysts, the mountain bloc which played a key role in propelling Dr Ruto to power in 2022, if united against him, is likely to bring to reality Mr Gachagua’s campaign for Dr Ruto’s one term presidency.

The Sunday war of words between Mr Gachagua and the DP was sparked by Saturday’s incident during which one person was killed and several vehicles burnt following a confrontation between youths who were attempting to storm Prof Kindiki’s meeting at Nembule stadium in Embu County.

On Sunday, Mr Gachagua told Prof Kindiki to forget about splitting the region. 

“We know, a fact that you cannot deny, that Mr William Ruto gave you a deadline of October 25, 2026, to divide the region into an imaginary Mt. Kenya East and West. How can you divide a people united by culture and a rich history for years?,” Mr Gachagua posted on his Facebook page.

He went on: “I have told you several times, and it is in the public domain, that you cannot divide the mountain; this is an exercise in futility. It is easier to cut a Mugumo tree with a razor blade than to divide the mountain. Haven’t you and your boss learnt any political lessons from the Olkalou by-election?”

Prof Kindiki fired back, and told off Mr Gachagua, insisting that nobody was interested in splitting the mountain.

“No mountain will be divided, may be in your evil dreams. Me and you found The GEMA united, it will forever remain so, and you have zero capacity to unite anything. Wachana na Mountain, it has its ways of remaining intact. Tafuta sera, let’s meet at the BALLOT,” Prof Kindiki responded, also in a Facebook post.

During his address to the more than 15,000 grassroots leaders, Prof Kindiki waded into the mountain split debate, and directed Mr Rutu to stop the campaign.

The DP emphasised the unity of the region and asked Mr Ruku and his supporters to go slow, saying the people of Mt Kenya East and West have co-existed for decades and they should not be separated.

“I urge my brother Ruku to stop the campaign he is running. The people of this region will remain united, peaceful and tolerant, despite attempts by some politicians to fan ethnic and regional animosity,” he said.

"Since independence" 

The DP said elders from both Mt Kenya East and West are engaging to sort out the emerging political differences in the region and they should be given time to pursue the matter.

In the same meeting, Embu County Assembly Speaker Murithi Thiriku had sought to clarify that those who are running the split campaign are doing so out of reluctance by some leaders from Mt Kenya West to support Prof Kindiki, despite the East having supported the West since independence, an argument that has been advanced by Mr Ruku.

According to sources around Prof Kindiki, the elders had demanded that Mr Ruku stops the split the mountain clamour, which they said was causing animosity and discomfort among the people in the region.

“The elders from both sides of the mountain said since time in memorial, the West and East are brothers and sisters with shared culture, religious beliefs, commercial interests, political choices and social orientation and that any talk of splitting the region was not only counterproductive but practically untenable,” said an on condition of anonymity.

The development came even as President Ruto’s allies stepped up efforts to woo Mt Kenya west into his fold.

While Energy Principal Secretary Mr Alex Wachira told Nation he will hold forums in Nyeri next week, elders are expected to meet in Nyeri with the intention of bridging the political divide between Mt Kenya East and West.

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