Parliamentary purge sparks claims of a ploy to isolate Mt Kenya

Kiambu Senator Karungu Wa Than'gwa (left) and Nyandarua Senator John Methu at Parliament buildings, Nairobi. [File, Standard] The ongoing shakeup of committees at the Senate and National Assembly has elicited questions on the place of Mt Kenya in President William Ruto's larger political matrix ahead of 2027 elections. The recent purge of Gachagua allies in the Senate and handing of their positions to outliers in government amid Ruto's accelerated charm offensive in former PM Raila Odinga's political bastions has caused disquiet among loyalists and rebels of President Ruto's government in Mt Kenya. Some pundits claim this is meant to politically alienate Mt Kenya region by collectively punishing pro and anti government forces. Despite having voted overwhelmingly for the Kenya Kwanza administration, the Head of State is currently at odds with leaders from the region - compounded by the ouster of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The kicking out of four Gachagua allies from powerful Senate committees and a looming purge at the National Assembly has seen the leaders accuse President Ruto of orchestrating a plot to sideline Mt Kenya from power. A fortnight ago, Senators Joe Nyutu (Murang'a), Karungo Thang'wa (Kiambu), James Murango (Kirinyaga), and John Methu (Nyandarua) were kicked out of key committees. And on Tuesday, Senator Methu claimed the president was now punishing Mt Kenya collectively for their revolt against his administration. "We as leaders from Mt Kenya and generally the people who support Gachagua feel it is unfair that he (Ruto)wants to push everyone one of us including those who supported him out of government. We have seen how committees are being reconstituted in Parliament. If indeed the problem was Gachagua, why is he punishing a whole community, punishing a whole region?" asked Methu on TV. He posed, "Every seat that belonged to Mt Kenya has been taken and given to other regions. He has his own sycophants from Mt Kenya, why can't he give them the positions?" His sentiments have caused a rift among Mt Kenya leaders. Mukurwe-ini MP John Kaguchia yesterday rallied behind the narrative of the region being isolated, warning that it would not end well for Ruto in the run up to the next polls. "It's suspicious because Ruto enjoys support from majority of leaders from Mt Kenya but he is sidelining them even though they have sacrificially supported him through thick and thin but just like he did to Gachagua, he will betray all of them by bypassing them," said Kaguchia. "The political leaders supporting President Ruto will find themselves in an awkward position as 'their' positions are taken from them and given to opposition supporters," he added. Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge, however, disagreed with this. "How do you alienate a region which has county governments that are receiving money from the exchequer and county assemblies which are functional? A region where development projects passed by Parliament, are ongoing?" he posed.

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