Justin Muturi: Central leaders’ demands to presidential candidates are unrealistic

Thika MP Patrick Wainaina, Embu Woman Representative Jane Wanjuki, Laikipia Senator John Kinyua and Chuka Igamba Ng’ombe MP Patrick Munene at Mt Breeze Hotel in Embu County where about 50 MPs and Senators from Mt Kenya region converged to discuss matters affecting the region.  [Joseph Muchiri, Standard]

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has accused some Mt Kenya leaders of making unrealistic demands to presidential candidates.

Muturi was responding to Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria remark that whoever wants the Mt Kenya vote should award the region 40 per cent of all government appointments.

“And I think you cannot start talking about percentages of this or the other... it is not ripe for discussion, because if you are going to talk about the country, you must look at all regions,” he said.

The speaker said those making such demands must understand that all regions must be included in the debate about sharing resources and positions.

“But of course, you know, it is the right of everybody to dream, whichever way they wish to. Those who wish to dream for positions of deputy president also wish to dream for positions of ambassadors. They are at liberty to do so as it pleases them,” said Muturi.

He said his interest was pushing his agenda for the presidency. Muturi denied reports of scheming to be a running mate to one of the presidential candidates.

“The issue of being a running mate, I think is a creation... a rumour ...wishful thinking of the active Kenyan political commentators,” he said.

He promised to put Kenya first over the sectarian interests of regions.

“I think it’s even wrong to say Mount Kenya must be on the table, Kenya must be on the table. Yes, Mount Kenya can have a conversation that is okay, but in this country you cannot win alone you must make sure that everyone wins,” said Muturi.

Not negotiable

On Monday, a meeting of top politicians from Mt Kenya declared that the deputy president coming from Mt Kenya is not negotiable.

The meeting that brought together Kuria, The Service Party leader Mwangi Kiunjuri, Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua, former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, former Tetu MP Ndung’u Gethenji and Land Development and Governance Institute CEO Mwenda Makathimo agreed on a six-point plan for the region.

“The position of Deputy President coming from Mt Kenya region is not negotiable. Whereas we cannot stop anyone from the region from vying for presidency, that will be individual pursuit. The generally accepted consensus is that the deputy president must come from Mt Kenya,” read part of the statement released after the talks.

The politicians said unity of purpose for Mt Kenya leaders is paramount and cannot be compromised irrespective of their political affiliation or the presidential candidate they support.

They maintained that they will support political parties whose leadership emanates from the region as custodians of the long term security of the people and their interests in future governments.

The leaders declared that their engagement with any presidential candidate will be on the basis of fair share of resources to Mt Kenya counties.