Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria is positioning himself to take to national politics come 2022.
The county boss has held a series of meetings with leaders from the opposition as he prepares to throw a hat in the ring.
Wa Iria has met leaders from the opposition including ODM leader Raila Odinga, Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka and Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi.
The governor is banking on his close ties with the leaders to rise to the national level as President Uhuru Kenyatta prepares for his retirement when that time comes.
Wa Iria, a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto, is considered one of the politicians to watch from the region in the next race for power.
His presence in political rallies and other public events has made him more popular.
He has smartly avoided to align himself with both Kieleweke or Tanga Tanga factions of the Jubilee Party.
He has been holding meetings in hotels and other places away from the public domain in a bid to avoid any suspicion of his plans.
In a past interview with Daily Nation, he remain coy over his meetings. He insisted that he only meets for development-oriented discussions but the reality on the ground seems not to be the same.
“Leaders meet to discuss various issues in the country and there should be no cause for alarm when we meet,” he told the Nation.
He is considered as one of the forces to reckon with when it comes to the battle for the control of the votes from Mt Kenya region.
He is expected to fight for control of the region alongside Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Cabinet secretaries Peter Munya (Trade) and Mwangi Kiunjuri (Agriculture) and Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria.