Who will step up to succeed Uhuru as point man for Mt Kenya region?

President Uhuru Kenyatta with Deputy President William Ruto after an address to the nation at State House, Nairobi.

The chapter on the 2017 elections may not have closed yet, but speculation has already started on a post-President Uhuru Kenyatta Mt Kenya as he serves his final term.

For some leaders in the region, the just-concluded election was as much about cementing President Uhuru for a second term as it was about establishing themselves as the ones to step up and assume his role when he finally calls it a day.

Political analysts, however, say there is no heir apparent yet. Peter Kagwanja would not touch the topic as “it is too early to raise the discussion” but said someone was bound to step up.

The pre-election pact that brought together Uhuru and William Ruto in 2013 was that Ruto would be Jubilee Party’s presidential candidate in 2022, but the subject of his running mate has not be broached.

To whip the Mt Kenya vote into his basket, Ruto might have to play the key role of hand picking Mt Kenya’s next leader and whomever he chooses as his running mate will have a head start.

To that effect, a number of leaders have made open their intention to be his running mate when the time comes and effectively become the region’s political honchos.

Among them are Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau, former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo and Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki.

But with President Kenyatta set to leave office at 60, he will still be several years younger than Mwai Kibaki was when he retired and might opt to still play an active role in politics.

Should he decide to remain at the front, and with the manner the region has rallied around him, then the space will be constrained for another voice.

Karua and Kenneth took a stab at the presidency in 2013 but lost.

This year they put their ambitions on hold to opt for the governor seats, which they also lost.

The move was interpreted as their setting the table with their sights set on 2022, especially since Karua ended her brief dalliance with the Opposition where she was part of the abortive Okoa Kenya drive for a referendum.

She is presently one of the senior most politicians in the region who, after playing a critical role in the formation of the grand coalition government in 2008, was overlooked for the Deputy Prime Minister’s position that Kibaki handed to Uhuru, and by that action anointing him a successor.

Speculation picked up when Karua accompanied Ruto to several meetings around the time she announced she would vie for the Kirinyaga governor’s seat.

Alternative party

Narc Kenya adds to the attraction of Karua and, if it is developed into an alternative party in Mt Kenya like Kanu is to Jubilee in Rift Valley, this should bolster her position.

But political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi played down her chances as he did Kabogo’s, saying the duo were not reading from the same script as Kenyatta.

“The framework is simple: dynasties are jealous and whoever inherits Uhuru’s mantle should not compete with his interests. That takes Kabogo and Karua out of the picture,” says Ngunyi.

Ngunyi say his money is on Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui and his Kirinyaga counterpart Anne Waiguru, a surprise inclusion since Ruto and Waiguru have had a frosty relationship in the past.

However, if Ruto’s presence during her inauguration and his endorsing her for the Kirinyaga seat is anything to go by, their conflict seems to be behind them now.

The swearing-in ceremony of the Kirinyaga governor in August was turned into an event to pay court to Ruto and sell Waiguru as a worthy number two.

At least 20 MPs allied to Jubilee were present, including Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Amos Kimunya (Kipipiri), Kanini Kega (Kieni), John Kiarie (Dagoretti South) and nominated senators Cecily Mbarire and Beth Mugo.

Each of them assured Ruto of the region’s backing in 2022.

“You have stood with and supported President Uhuru and we shall also back you to take over power after the Head of State retires,” Kega said.

Mugo and Kajiado East MP Peris Tobiko appeared to see a more central role for Waiguru, asking Ruto to consider her as his deputy.

Ruto, however, steered clear of the topic.

According to Ngunyi, Ruto will have little or no influence on the next Mt Kenya point man even though he would technically be running the show.

“Ruto does not get to play a role in any of this. Uhuru will be the man to select whoever takes over from him,” he says.

This could diminish Kindiki’s  prospects  even though he has expressed interest in being Ruto’s deputy.

“Kindiki is more of a Ruto man. He and Uhuru have a frosty chemistry, so I wouldn’t bank on him,” says Ngunyi.

Mt Kenya East, which comprises Meru, Tharaka, Mbeere and Embu, see this as their chance after supporting both Jomo, Kibaki and Uhuru from Central Kenya.

Former Meru Governor Peter Munya’s momentum may have been derailed by his loss to Kiraitu Murungi, but if he maintains his fiery nature then he might still have some cards to play.

Away from Mt Kenya East, Kiunjuri is also not to be written off and some have said he is the most likely heir.

Kiunjuri is a key player in the Uhuru administration and has attracted the admiration of senior citizens with his ability to move crowds with his clever mastery of the Kikuyu language.

But all is not merry in his native Laikipia County where his influence is waning, especially after Ndiritu Muriithi took over as governor.