Agriculture minister Mwangi Kiunjuri may have after all settled on Deputy President William Ruto as the most suitable candidate for Mt Kenya region ahead of 2022 presidential elections.
The Mountain has remained shaky for the past few months after two groups emerged with one supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta legacy and another one rallying behind Deputy President William Ruto.
Last Sunday at Dagoretti South, Kiunjuri who spoke in the local dialect, insisted that the Mt Kenya community has no alternative other than backing Dr Ruto, who helped President Uhuru Kenyatta ascend to power twice.
“Good is paid by good. There is no way a friend will rescue you from a leopard and then let that friend be eaten by the same leopard. The journey is long and a leopard is hunted by a man and his in-law,” said the former teacher and tout, now estimated to be worth over Sh800 million according to his wealth declaration data.
“When a grass-thatched hut catches fire, it usually spreads it to a similar thatched hut. “When the time comes, we must travel along the journey the same way we travelled before. Our gospel must be the same as before. We must be aware of who is for our interests,” the CS said.
Mr Kiunjuri is now the senior most lesser from the region to throw his weight behind Ruto after Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu. Mr Waititu has openly defied the president and has frequently accompanied Ruto to various functions.
But on the other hand, Kiunjuri is likely to face resistance from Maina Kamanda, the firebrand nominated MP who is leading Mt Kenya and Diaspora Forum, a group believed to be crafting on how to block Ruto's presidency.