Several Murang’a leaders have thrown their support behind Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s efforts to unite the Mt Kenya region. Among these leaders are Maragua MP Mary Waithera and five MCAs. Waithera stated that the opposition to Gachagua’s initiative is being fueled by factions opposed to the unity of the Mt. Kenya region.
Speaking in her constituency on Saturday, the second-term MP emphasized that politics begins at the grassroots level and questioned why some parties are uneasy with endeavors to foster unity within the region.
“We are in a bottom-up government. All things in our government start from the village level before going up and everybody comes from a village. What wrong has Gachagua done by trying to solidify his backyard?” Waithera wondered.
According to her, local leaders working against the unity of the region are either confused or have been ‘fed’ enough and are suffering from indigestion.
“Those accusing Gachagua of being a villager just for discussing issues pertaining to his region should be investigated because they could have been paid to do so,” she said.
The MP asserted that the entities instigating conflicts within the region fear its unity because of its substantial voter base, and are intent on disrupting it. She encouraged Gachagua to continue his endeavors to unite the residents.
Waithera also questioned why calls for unity in the Mt Kenya region are labeled as tribal, while similar efforts in other regions are not. She pointed to the coastal region, where she claimed residents united to combat issues like muguka.
Additionally, she mentioned Speaker Moses Wetangula, who recently convened a meeting with MPs and MCAs from Western Kenya to discuss unity and development.
“Who accused him of being tribal? We have no apology for being members of the Mt. Kenya community and if there’s another issue behind the attacks on Gachagua, let us be told,” she said, adding that the country cannot be united if unity does not start from the village level.
Waithera who has been a close ally of Gachagua further support his calls for One Man, One Shilling, One Vote revenue share formula saying those with digressing views should sit on the table and amicably talk it out.
“Those proposing One Man One Vote One Kilometre are allowed to do so because that’s what their people require. If you call me a villager for saying this, that’s where I get my votes. We are told to unite to vote as a block during elections but now when we discuss unity, we are dubbed tribal”.
Gitugi MCA Edwin Mwangi expressed that as leaders who closely engage with the common citizens, their political activities primarily take place within the villages. According to Mwangi, the residents wholeheartedly support the Deputy President and are less preoccupied with conflicts among leaders.
“We will not allow some people to fight Gachagua. He rallied us towards voting for the government and we’ll continue supporting him”.
Maragua resident Elizabeth Nyawira wondered why some leaders were offended by Gachagua’s calls for the region to unite.
Nyawira said Gachagua solidified locals’ support for him when he championed the fight against illicit brews that helped restore many homes.
“Telling him that he’s acting like a villager is an insult to us as Kenyans. We voted for him the same way we voted for you,” she said.
