Nairobi: As politicians eyeing the presidency in 2022 continue touring various parts of the country to cement their prospects, at least seven Kenya politicians are jostling for the running mate position. The move, however, has left the region exposed for lack of an automatic successor unlike it has been the case in previous leadership successions.
Of concern is the fact that President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the region’s political kingpin and de-facto leader, is constitutionally expected to vacate the State House at the end of 2022. The position currently held by the President in the Agikuyu community has also attracted great attention, as there is fear of a vacuum upon his exit.
So far, among the more than 100 elected leaders in the region, only Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has declared he would gun for the Presidency. Kuria has in the recent past reduced his participation in Deputy President William Ruto's political camp forums - popularly known as Tangatanga.
To position himself as the next possible de-facto leader in the central region, Kuria has been attending major music concerts organised by both gospel and secular artists in the region to support their talents, he has become the patron of Mt Kenya Football Club and is said to have established his own vernacular television station, apparently to advance his agenda.
Commonly referred as Jamba ya Ruriri (Community hero), the slim towering former accountant who rose to fame due to negative ethnic remarks, is also fighting for reforms in coffee sub-sector. Coffee farming is one of the main economic activities in Mt Kenya.
On the other hand, among those said to be eyeing running mates position, mostly to deputise Ruto, is Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria. He is serving his second and last term in office. The two have severally hosted each other in Nairobi and Murang'a.
Since his re-election as the Deputy President, Ruto has visited the Mt Kenya region for more than 40 times, besides holding boardroom meetings with the regional leaders at his Karen office and in hotels Others touted to be jostling for the seat are Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and Cabinet secretaries Mwangi Kiunjuri (Agriculture) and Peter Munya (Trade).
Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo and former assistant Minister Peter Kenneth, though they have kept a low political profile after losing in last year's General Election, are also among those positioning themselves to be the community’s leaders.
However, as President Kenyatta’s succession hots up, Governor Wa Iria appears to be already preparing his political path.
