Storm out with who? Muhia dismisses threats over Kindiki

Kipipiri Constituency MP Wanjiku Muhia has launched a scathing attack on Mt Kenya politicians defending Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, terming it as hypocrisy and political deceit.

Speaking on Saturday, Muhia faulted leaders from the region who have insisted that Kindiki’s position should not be handed to another individual, saying they were attempting to cleanse their image before the electorate.

According to the legislator, the same politicians now portraying themselves as defenders of the Deputy President were instrumental in the ouster of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

“They are trying to act like they are defending Kindiki to be forgiven by the people, but they will not,” she said.

Muhia argued that the leaders had previously justified Gachagua’s removal on grounds of poor leadership and should now explain why Kindiki should be treated differently.

“They said Gachagua was not a good leader and had to be removed. I want to ask, what has Kindiki done to be removed,” she posed.

She maintained that it was too late for the politicians to seek sympathy from voters.

“It is too late for them to cry and we are not sympathizing with them,” Muhia said. 

The MP also questioned threats by some United Democratic Alliance (UDA) members from Thika and Murang’a who have warned that they would exit government should Kindiki be removed to pave the way for another candidate.

“We have seen UDA members all over from Thika, Murang'a, crying, saying that if Kindiki is removed, they will walk out of government. With who? We already left that government. They say they will get out of broad-based. With whom? They are only there by themselves and they remained there only for their stomachs,” she said.

Muhia further took issue with the expectations surrounding the formation of the broad-based government arrangement, particularly after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) joined the administration.

“We want to tell them, what did they expect in a broad-based arrangement. When ODM came into government, what did they expect?” she asked.

She claimed that Kindiki’s stay in office was always temporary following the political realignments and that the position should now be ceded to an ODM nominee.

“ODM needed to be given a slot, so Kindiki was an acting Deputy President. He was there temporarily, and the time is over. He should now be told to step aside to give way for Oburu Odinga,” she said.

Muhia urged ODM to remain firm in its pursuit of the deputy presidency, suggesting that the seat could go to Oburu Odinga, Governor Gladys Wanga, or Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.

“That seat should be given to youth leader Oburu, or Governor Gladys Wanga or MP Junet Mohamed. We are okay,” she stated.

Her remarks come amid ODM’s push for the position following the formation of the broad-based government. According to ODM leader Oburu Oginga, the party would only back President William Ruto’s re-election bid if granted the deputy presidency.

Muhia also took aim at Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, who recently warned that the Mt Kenya region would storm out of government if Kindiki were replaced in the 2027 General Election.

In her address, Muhia insisted that leaders from the region had been warned that UDA was no longer under their control and that political consequences were inevitable.

“They were told UDA is somebody else’s party now they are being chased away,” she said.