Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku on Tuesday renewed calls to have Mt Kenya East separated from the larger Mt Kenya region in efforts to independently bargain for development like other politically independent regions.
The lawmaker argued that the region will not allow being generalised with the larger Mt Kenya region, claiming that only the West section of the region enjoys development projects from the government.
Speaking at a burial ceremony in Karigiri, the legislator expressed concerns over poor infrastructure developments in the semi-arid Mt Kenya East since independence.
He claimed that the people of Mt Kenya East have been denied their rightful share of development by successive governments owing to their affiliation with the larger Mt Kenya region.
“If we ask for Kamumu Dam to be constructed, we are told Riba and Karimenu Dams are in Mt Kenya therefore they will not build for us,” he lamented.
Despite being an arid region, Ruku observed that its residents have been denied funds to construct a dam to facilitate irrigation in the region.
According to him, the area was set to benefit under the Kenya Kwanza Government and that is the reason he has been drumming up support for the Kenya Kwanza regime.
“Our problems are unique from those of other regions. We will ensure we are close to the government of President William Ruto so that he can bring us development,” he reasoned emphasising that they should break away from Mt Kenya West.
Ruku further vowed to continue standing for Mt Kenya East noting, “I will continue to push the interests of Mbeere North.”
In what seemed a direct jibe at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the lawmaker took an issue with leaders from the larger Mt. Kenya region who he claimed were chest thumping because they have gotten development in their regions.
“Whoever is chest thumping because his stomach is full, we as a people of Mbeere North have not reached there,” he castigated
He emphasised that marginalised communities can only benefit if they support the government of the day and break away from broad ethnic formations.
