Storm in Mt Kenya over push to have Kiambu as standalone region

A push by a section of pro-government leaders from Kiambu to have the county as a standalone region from Mt Kenya has triggered a storm in the populous bloc.

The clamour, which was triggered three weeks ago, got the backing from Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah during President William Ruto's meeting with grassroots leaders from Kiambu at State House on Wednesday.

Kindiki said he concurs with leaders pushing for Kiambu county to be considered a separate region from the wider Mt Kenya political demarcation.

Ichung'wah (MP, Kikuyu) said while Kiambu residents have been christened the people of Mt Kenya, the only mountains they see are Ngong Hills and Kilimambogo, suggesting they don’t share much with the wider Mt Kenya. 

“They have now said they are a region by themselves. You can merge six counties but they won’t measure up to the population in Kiambu. So, we have come as a huge delegation because we are many, just as we voted for you [President Ruto] overwhelmingly in 2022,” he said.

Gatundu MP Njoroge Kururia had earlier argued that Kiambu has an estimated 1.4 million votes, a summation of the votes in Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Laikipia counties.

“We don’t want a situation where when the President tours Mt Kenya region, he is said to have also visited Kiambu. As a county, we have now organised ourselves as a standalone region," Kururia said.

"We want our development plans, our ministers, PSs and allocation not be done alongside other counties of Mt Kenya. Let them get their share separately because our leadership doesn’t cross River Chania.” 

The Chania River divide symbolises the political rivalry between Kiambu and the larger Mt Kenya region, particularly Nyeri, the home of former DP Rigathi Gachagua.

Kiambu Woman Representative Anne Wa Muratha argued that Kiambu has grown to the size of Nairobi and is now a cosmopolitan region.

“If you look at some areas such as Ruiru, we have eight wards, which is almost five counties is some other parts of the country. Kiambu by itself is almost six other counties. When you look at our votes, other than Nairobi, no other county beats us,” she said.

It is against this background that Wa Muratha argues that if a government is voted by such a huge constituency, it should in return have favourable consideration in resource allocation.  

Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe said Kiambu also hosts a huge residential population, schools and other amenities. Consequently, Kagombe argued, more resources to build roads, connect water and electricity should be directed to the county.

“In the same manner we allocate more resources to Nairobi county because of its more and unique needs, then Kiambu region comes second in allocation to cater to the social amenities,” he said.

However, the push has faced opposition from leaders from the region, terming it a divide and rule strategy.

Former CS Moses Kuria termed the push as the return of the “Kiambu Mafia” during the Jomo Kenyatta era.

“Let me state categorically that Kiambu will always be part of Mt Kenya. And not an isolated Mt Kenya but one that will be a proud part and parcel of our wonderful nation Kenya. And for avoidance of doubt that Mt Kenya will pit all their six million votes in one basket in 2027,” Kuria said on his X page.

In response to the demand to have Kiambu rewarded with positions for their votes, Kuria said Mt Kenya will vote unconditionally without demanding to be given the presidency, the running mate nor Prime Cabinet Secretary.

“It is now clear some of these positions have the same value as a recycled toilet paper. So let's relax and chew popcorn for another 92 weeks,” he said.

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba also criticised the move, terming it a political show that has no benefit to residents.

“These leaders depleted their political ideas and have lost touch with their voters. They can't hold rallies in their own backyards, they can only ferry paid up masses to secluded places to try and resuscitate their politics. Kiambu county will not separate from other Mt Kenya counties. We vote as one and coexist,” Wamuchomba said on Thursday.

She said a similar divisive strategy was tried on Mt Kenya East Vs West and failed terribly.

"We know the architects and even this will fail mercilessly," she said,

Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thangw’a also termed the move as a divide and rule strategy, but noted the region remains united and not for sale.

“After failing to split Mt Kenya into East and West, Ruto has now hatched a fresh scheme with his maids to isolate Kiambu county from the rest of the mountain,” the senator said.

Gatanga MP Edward Muriu from Murang’a county said the push cannot work “legally, politically or socially”.

Muriu, who is aligned to former DP Gachagua’s camp, said the bottom line of the push is to divide the Mt Kenya voting bloc.

“But it is a stupid idea being pushed by allies of the President who know too well they are not coming back. They are just finding ways of making money from the President. The bottom line is this is not for the good of the people. It is a sorry attempt at trying to split the voting bloc that has already been taken by Gachagua,” Muriu told the Star on the phone.