As the clock continues to tick towards 2022, it has emerged that a bandwagon of politicians from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region are positioning themselves to take over the leadership of the electoral zone when President Uhuru Kenyatta leaves State House after the 2022 general elections.
In the new list are seasoned and wealthy politicians who are keen on ensuring Central Kenya's grip in national politics remains intact even after Uhuru who is presently the region's uniting leader exits national politics in four years to come.
According to the Nation, the list includes former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo who lost his seat to Ferdinand Waititu during the August 2017 general election, Cabinet Secretaries Peter Munya and Mwangi Kiunjuri, Tharaka Nithi Senator Prof Kindiki Kithure, National Assembly Speaker Justine Muturi as well as Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi.
The five have been in politics for long and undoubtedly have the capacity to negotiate for the region's share of national development even if the country gets its fifth president from any other region apart from Central.
Initially, the list had included Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru and Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia but their names seem to have been dropped.
Uhuru is serving his final term in office and leaders from Mt Kenya are restless as the zone risks fading away in the national political platform should Uhuru hand over power without picking a leader who will continue to champion Central Kenya's interests nationally and regionally.
Leaders mainly from the Kikuyu community led by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata recently convened a meeting in which the succession issue is said to have been discussed. Uhuru, however, told the leaders to stop early politicking and instead concentrate on developing the country as 2022 was still far.