The Kikuyu community will not rally behind a common candidate in the 2022 general election, city lawyer Wahome Thuku has observed.
Thuku said the populous community will vote for various politicians, unlike in the last 20 years when almost all votes went to retired President Mwai Kibaki, and incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He said the community, whose most members reside in the Mt Kenya region, was sharply divided, adding that in the next general election, it won't 'speak in one voice'.
Thuku said even ODM leader Raila Odinga will get a good number of votes if he vies, unlike in the past 3 polls (2007, 2013 and 2017) when Kikuyus who showed support for him were being viewed as 'outcasts'.
"Never mind Raila had single handedly brought the country behind Kibaki in 2002 when Uhuru and Ruto were still Moi's babies. For just admiring Raila (not even supporting him) you were described as a traitor "mwendia wa ruriri" (a community sellout)" he wrote on his Facebook account on Thursday.
Thuku, who is an advocate of the High Court and former journalist, mocked members of the Kikuyu community who labeled others as 'sellouts' for backing unpopular candidates in the region, saying in 2022, they will also vote for presidential aspirants who don't hail from Mt Kenya.
"Now let's agree that selling is selling no matter who you sell to. If you don't vote for a Kikuyu in 2022 you will be a sellout "irregadless" of who the buyer will be."
"I am therefore happy that for the first time all Gikuyu voters shall be selling out the community. In short, the largest community in Kenya shall offer itself for sale but, only in different markets," the lawyer posted.
His analysis could have been informed by the observation that there was no strong politician to take over as Mt Kenya kingpin from Uhuru, after he retires in 2022.
Some leaders have been campaigning for Deputy President William Ruto to be elected as Kenya's fifth president, while others such as Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru have been drumming up support for Raila.