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The star is fast rising on the political career of national assembly speaker Justin Muturi whom many in Mount Kenya region now see as the Uhuru Kenyatta’s choice for the regional kingpin.
Justin Muturi
Those in the know say, during the last Sagana State Lodge meeting, Uhuru was holed up in talks with Muturi lasting for hours leaving those present wondering aloud. Muturi upped the determination by leaders from Mount Kenya East to produce the next regional kingpin to inherit Uhuru’s mantle once the head of state’s tenure ends in 2022 following his second coronation as heir-apparent. Initial reports indicate Muturi is being favoured as a compromise candidate in Mount Kenya after Uhuru bid to have his own Kikuyu community back a leader from Murang’a met resistance.
Peter Kenneth
Peter Kenneth is the favourite but politicians from Kiambu led by former governor William Kabogo from Kiambu and Health CS Mutahi Kagwe from Nyeri are against those from Murang’a holding prime political seat despite them having backed Uhuru’s father the late Jomo Kenyatta and Mwai Kibaki presidency. It is on the said grounds Muturi factor is taking shape. The move came three months after the speaker was made the spokesperson for Mt Kenya East in an elaborate cultural extravaganza conducted by the Njuri Ncheke at their Nchiru shrine in Meru.
William Kabogo
The Meru event was attended by Agriculture cabinet secretary Peter Munya who is also angling for the title. Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi also believed to be angling for the title gave Muturi’s coronation a wide berth though the ceremony was held in his backyard. The installation in Meru saw Muturi, a former Siakago MP become the fifth leader to be installed as Mt Kenya spokesman by the respected Njuri Njeke elders after Mzee Kenyatta, former president Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru and Kiraitu.
Mutahi Kagwe
The coronation now means Muturi will fight for the title with those allied to Uhuru who are angling for it. They include Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria, Munya, Kenneth and Kabogo. Those allied to William Ruto who are also angling for the title include Gatundu South lawmaker Moses Kuria and former Agriculture cabinet secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri. But Muturi who has served as national assembly speaker since 2013 and is also allied to the president has an added advantage in that he comes from Mount Kenya East which is gearing up to produce its first kingpin in Mount Kenya politics.
Peter Munya
He is also number three in power hierarchy. The supremacy war between Munya and Kiraitu will also boost Muturi’s chances since their supporters are comfortable with him as the compromise Mount Kenya kingpin. Leaders expected to back Muturi’s bid as the regional kingpin hail from Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga and Tharaka Nithi counties which feel isolated and have been clamouring to have their man supported to succeed Uhuru. Indeed, Muturi’s appointment as the speaker of the national assembly was a political gamep-lan to include Mt Kenya East region in Uhuru’s government and to quell the feeling that the region had for a long time been locked out by the Mt Kenya West region.
Mwangi Wa Iria
Already, Muturi has received the backing of governors Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi) and Martin Wambora (Embu), the latter being the chairman of the council of governors. Kiraitu is also reportedly mulling throwing his weight behind Muturi as one way of cutting to size his rival Munya. Before he was anointed, Muturi was in seclusion and was not allowed to leave his house or see a woman and was eating a special diet. The significance of the event was highlighted by the fact that it was held in the historic Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga shrine in Gaturi, Murang’a county.
Moses Kuria
The last time such a historic event took place at the shrine was in February 2012 when former Kiambaa MP and Defence cabinet minister, Njenga Karume was crowned a Kikuyu elder. Karume died a few days after his crowning. There are reports some Kikuyu elders had warned him against being installed as an elder on the argument that his third wife was at the time still breastfeeding their young one. Back to Muturi, the significance of his coronation in Meru and Murang’a was demonstrated by the presence of Kiama kia Ma patron, Kung’u Muigai, a relative of the president. The fact that the elders from the Meru’s Njuri Ncheke Council, Embu’s Nyaangi Ndiriri and Ngome – from Muturi’s Mbeere backyard were expected to attend and witness the ceremony also highlighted the significance of the event.
Mwangi Kiunjuri
Curiously, Muturi’s installation was welcomed by Ruto’s allies such as nominated MP Cecily Mbarire, her Igembe South counterpart John Paul Mwirigi and Kirinyaga woman representative Wangui Ngirichi. Ngirici even poured praises on Muturi, saying his soberness, legal background and non-partisanship in running of the national assembly make him the best person to work with Ruto to represent the interests of Mt Kenya region in the next government. Tharaka Nithi senator Kithure Kindiki who was angling for the kingpin position has reportedly withdrawn from the race to concentrate on his gubernatorial bid where he will square it out with Njuki.
Kiraitu Murungi
Kindiki has also withdrawn from the race to be Ruto’s running mate in the 2022 presidential race. Also on the race for Mount Kenya kingpin is Kenneth who like Muturi has also been crowned as the Agikuyu cultural ambassador by Kikuyu Council of Elders. Before he was crowned at Mahiga Matatu Cultural Centre, Kenneth had met with Kikuyu elders and businessman Peter Munga who is Mt Kenya Foundation chair. He had also been meeting with elected leaders in Nairobi to discuss Mt Kenya region development. For the Murang’a governor Wairia who is serving his second term and is eyeing the presidency, he has registered a political party, Usawa Kwa Wote which he intends to use to bargain for running mate slot with a top presidential aspirant.
Kithure Kindiki
But the governor is facing corruption allegations which put a damper on his presidential ambitions. Back to Muturi, since his coronation he has received several suitors from various parties in their efforts to woo him to join their various political parties. Among them are Kanu, ODM, Jubilee and United Democratic Alliance whose MPs attempted to court him to work with the outfits ahead of the 2022 elections. Among those who wooed him to their side was Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa, an ally of the deputy president who called on the speaker to speak on behalf of those who have no voice, saying the hustler movement would be best.
Muthomi Njuki
Muturi according to his close allies has now dropped his ambition for Embu gubernatorial seat in 2022 but will instead back Mbarire. The speaker is now eyeing a national post, with his eyes firmly focused on running mate slot. It will be interesting to see the candidate he will back but pundits aver that the speaker will endorse the aspirant endorsed by Uhuru. Muturi factor is not being received well by MP Maoka Maore who has declared war on him with support of powerful forces in the Office of the President.
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