Over 40 Central Kenya MPs allied to DP Ruto hold strategy meeting

A section of MPs from the president’s backyard have been championing for DP William Ruto’s State House race.

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Citizen TV has established that a meeting was held on Saturday night at Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua’s home to drum up support for Dr. Ruto.

MPs drawn from 11 counties in the Mt. Kenya region all gathered for the night meeting that had been planned since monday.

“We met yesterday and we are planning how Mt. Kenya will benefit… We are looking for a bigger picture… We were about 45 percent of us,” Gachagua said.

The meeting was ostensibly crafted to oil anti-Uhuru politics and assess the president’s perceived status as leader of the region.

The MPs at the meeting outlined their irreducible minimums that they intend to present to DP Ruto, including affirmations on the positions that the region will get should they fully back his candidature.

The positions include deputy president, prime minister and two deputy prime ministers, should the BBI changes sail through.

“We want to know should we support him, what will be our region’s stake in his government,” Gachagua said.

Sources indicate that the meeting resolved to set up separate teams that will negotiate on behalf of the Mt. Kenya region, in what was seen as an escalation of hostilities between the Kieleweke and Tangatanga factions.

Additionally, the lawmakers have tasked their groups to push the region’s agenda by holding public gatherings in all the 11 counties.

“We want our region to benefit economically…. We will support DP Ruto fully in 2022,” the lawmaker said.

The night-long meeting resolved to task Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria to lead economic negotiations for the region.

MPs Ndindi Nyoro, John Kiarie and John Muchiri have been paired with Kuria.

Other MPs including Gachagua, Kimani Ichungwa (Kikuyu), Alice Wahome (Kandara) and Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika will also lead another team that will be holding public barazas to galvanize the region’s support.

This comes on the backdrop of a meeting between ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya and DP Ruto that has sparked speculations over a possible re-union between the latter and his rival Raila Odinga.

The deputy president however dismissed the claims during a recent interview on Citizen TV.