Mathira Member of Parliament, Rigathi Gachagua, has castigated the Mt Kenya Foundation over their recent meetings with opposition presidential hopefuls.
During an interview on a local TV station on Thursday, October 7, Rigathi called out the group that is comprised of veteran political leaders and influential business individuals for allegedly neglecting the Mt Kenya people at their time of need.
Justifying his move to bash MFK, the outspoken lawmaker pointed out some of the problems experienced by the region's population, especially during the pandemic period.
He decried the recent issue of Laikipia skirmishes noting that the Mt Kenya tycoons have remained numb.
The Mathira MP went further to pinpoint the issues of eviction during the pandemic and seizing and torching of billions of properties owned by Mt Kenya business people which the foundation failed to intervene or even address.
"The people of Mt Kenya have had serious challenges and these people were not there. We have had our goods that were seized and torched in broad daylight and the Mt Kenya Foundation never condemned or even intervened. We have had the issue of demolitions in the middle of a pandemic, the Mt Kenya Foundation never met to discuss that one," he stated.
"We have had very serious skirmishes in Laikipia where a lot of people were displaced, the Mt Kenya Foundation never met to discuss interventions. When the real issues concerning Mt Kenya needed intervention, they were not available. Now they are available to meet presidential aspirants to discuss their wealth."
He, however, noted that they are free to continue meeting presidential aspirants but they should not purport to speak on behalf of the Mt Kenya region.
"The wealthy men are in order to meet and discuss with presidential candidates how to protect their wealth and even expand it more. They are in order but they are not doing it on behalf of Mt Kenya people, they are doing it for themselves. Everybody is entitled to protect their interest," the Mathira MP added.
On why Deputy President William Ruto is not meeting with the tycoons, Rigathi boasted that he is engaging directly with the electorates who will have a say during the 2022 General Election.
"William Ruto is already engaging the voters directly, he does not need to meet these people who will bring 50 or 100 votes or so. William Ruto is engaging with over seven million people on a daily basis. Let Raila Odinga, Musalia Mudavadi engage these 50 people and see what they will do for them," he maintained.
MFK, chaired by banking guru Peter Munga, has been meeting several presidential aspirants.
On Thursday, October 7, they hosted One Kenya Alliance (OKA) principals despite most of the bigwigs including media Mogul SK Macharia, President Uhuru Kenyatta's maternal uncle George Muhoho, former Kenya Chamber of Commerce Vice Chair James Mureu missing the meeting.
Munga, debunking the notion that the group is only made up of tycoons and billionaires, noted that they are just meeting to champion the interests of the people when Uhuru exits the stage.
"Those who are saying we are billionaires, may God hear their prayers so that we can double what we have," Munga stated.
The meeting with OKA came just days after they met ODM leader, Raila Odinga, and made it clear that they have not settled on a presidential candidate.
