Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga during a prayer meeting at Kabiruini Show Ground in Nyeri town on December 31, 2024.
The political battle form Mt Kenya region has taken a new twist, with former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga taking the battle to Rigathi Gachagua’s doorstep, and declaring that he will take the former deputy president head-on.
Speaking at Kabiru Ini stadium in Nyeri town, where hundreds of youth congregated to declare support for President William Ruto and his deputy Kithure Kindiki, Mr Njenga on Tuesday said he was in communication with the region’s perceived kingpins, including former President Uhuru Kenyatta, claiming they were aware of the meeting.
In what appeared to be preparation for the ground for President Ruto and his deputy, Mr Njenga told the youth to welcome the leaders when they tour the county.
He said the former DP would not be allowed to continue claiming that the region was sidelined by Dr Ruto’s government whereas several individuals were occupying senior positions in the administration.
Mr Njenga taunted Mr Gachagua, reminding him that “those who fought us are now out of government,” referring to his last year’s tribulations when he was arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearms. Mr Gachagua was at the time vocal in criticising Mr Njenga.
“They said they would deploy the police to ensure that we don’t step into this region. The same policemen are the ones guarding us as we hold our meeting today,” he said.
The venue of the rally was heavily secured by a contingent of police officers who patrolled the stadium and its vicinity.
Since Mr Gachagua was impeached on October 17, 2024, the Mt Kenya region has been hostile to both the president and his deputy.
Attacks on Mr Gachagua, where his meetings were on two occasions disrupted by goons believed to be government agents, have continued to draw residents farther away from President Ruto’s administration.
But Mr Njenga told area residents that they could not afford to be out of a government they overwhelmingly voted for, saying they must demand their share of development projects.
“This region gave Ruto over 47 per cent of the vote to send him to State House and we will remain in his administration. If one person was kicked out it doesn’t mean the whole community is out of government,” he said.
Mr Njenga said with the entry of Mutahi Kagwe (Nyeri) Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru), William Kabogo (Kiambu) and Ndiritu Muriithi (Laikipia), there is no way they would allow Mr Gachagua to continue with his campaign that the region was in the cold.
The four allies of Mr Kenyatta were named to head Agriculture, Trade and Investment and ICT ministries respectively and are awaiting vetting by Parliament while Mr Muriithi was on Monday sworn in as Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) board chairman.
“Soon, Mr Kagwe will be in charge of the Agriculture ministry and take care of our coffee, tea and milk, where some people failed,” he said, referring to Mr Gachagua who President Ruto had given the responsibility of overseeing reforms in the sub sectors.
He told members of parliament who had faced hostility since they impeached Mr Gachagua that they should go back to the grassroots without fear and help popularize President Ruto’s projects among the residents.
“We will not allow a few people to threaten you saying you are not wanted in the areas you represent. Residents should know that if MPs are not allowed to do their work they are the ones to lose because projects under the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) will not be implemented,” he said.
Mr Njenga was accompanied by a host of leaders from Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Kisii counties who asked him to represent the region by talking directly with president Ruto.
Speaker after speaker showered Mr Njenga with praise, addressing him as “chairman” and “ndovu” (elephant).
Mr Mike Makarena, a politician from Meru who campaigned for Opposition leader Raila Odinga in Mt Kenya region in the run-up to the August 2022 General Election, said Mt Kenya residents were contented with positions president Ruto’s administration had offered the region.
“Let me assure you that the President is with us. We are also grateful to the people of Mt Kenya West who have continued to support us when Prof Kindiki was elevated to the post of DP after Gachagua was kicked out for failing to unite the country,” he said.
“Those who are talking about the mountain region hurting simply because Gachagua is out of government are lying. The region is happy to be in government and the president is welcome here any time he wishes to visit,” Mr Makarena added.
The leaders also pleaded with President Ruto to ensure young people who were abducted are released unconditionally.
Mr Njenga led the meeting in declaring that leaders would forge unity in the region, saying leaders had also resolved to push for implementation of projects including Maumau roads that were launched by Mr Kenyatta and which have stalled.
