Deputy President William Ruto has an active covenant with the people of Mt Kenya and as such, they do not have a tangible reason to reject his 2022 presidential bid, MP Kimani Ichung'wah has said.
Ichung'wah made the remarks on Sunday hours after Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi dismissed the ongoing politicking in Mt Kenya, arguing that President Uhuru Kenyatta remains the de facto leader of the region.
“Politics is like fire; do not get into politics foolishly. As a region, we do not vote foolishly anymore. Politics must be planned. That is why we need to sit down and plan for the mountain region politics. We do not want to hear there is a team called ‘Tangatanga’ or ‘Kieleweke’ going round disturbing people,” said Kiraitu.
The region has seen two active camps with one backing President Uhuru Kenyatta while another one supporting Deputy President William Ruto's bid to occupy State House in 2022.
However, the Kikuyu MP says the region cannot afford to abandon DP Ruto, arguing that he helped President Uhuru Kenyatta clinch the presidency twice. According to him, the region has no alternative other than supporting the DP's bid.
"You wanted to transform the way we conduct our politics but there some people who are disobedient and are busy forming ethnic and regional parties. We must be people who keep covenants which we strike with others. We have a covenant with the people of Kenya and more importantly, we have a covenant in Jubilee. We shall stand with you as Mt Kenya region," he said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta promised to back DP Ruto in 2022 but has been rallying for his partnership with ODM leader Raila Odinga, a move that has caused divisions within the ruling party.