Sports Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Zack Kinuthia on Monday, September 6 spoke about the expectations of the Mount Kenya region in the 2022 General Election.
Speaking during an interview with a local media station, the CAS suggested that it was too early to rule out the possibility of the region fielding a presidential candidate.
In comments believed to be targeting Deputy President (DP) William Ruto, Kinuthia stated that the running mate position he offered would not be enough for the region.
"A running mate is not even enough for Mount Kenya, the least they accept is president," Kinuthia stated.
Kinuthia added that the least the region can accept is the presidency, given the region's large electorate. He claimed that the region boasts of the largest voting block, which he approximated at 8 million voters.
The CAS further explained that the economic gains made and the things they have changed do not allow them to play second fiddle.
However, while admitting that political times had changed, he stated that the running mate was just an irreducible minimum, and they would be willing to accept offers by any presidential candidate who also had numbers.
Kinuthia asserted that the region will back the candidate who has their interests at heart, explaining that what the region needed was economic empowerment.
He noted that since residents from the mountain were mostly farmers, a candidate who would like their support to, for example, ensure that the price of the farm produce is improved.
While firing shots at the DP, the CAS declared that the realization of economic development would only be achieved through credible models and not hoaxes like the latter's 'bottom-up approach'.
He also disclosed that the DPs brigade, which has been scouting the region in a bid to lure the voters, was not welcome.
"Of course, them they will not come to us, the Mount Kenya people. They are not even welcome, by the way," a fiery Kinuthia remarked.
Kinuthia's comments come barely days after The Service Party Leader Mwangi Kiunjuri stated that he would not front himself as Ruto's running mate. On September 6, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya also dismissed reports that he would be the DPs choice from Mount Kenya, explaining that he would not run alongside someone who claimed he tried to kill him.
