Mt Kenya leaders are already positioning themselves to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta as the region's kingpin, despite the pending petition filed at the Supreme Court challenging the 2022 presidential elections.
Deputy president-elect, Rigathi Gachagua, whose victory may be annulled by the apex court announced that he is next in line after Uhuru retires.
While speaking in Rongai, Nakuru County on Wednesday, August 24, Rigathi noted that there won't be a vacuum left in Mt Kenya when Uhuru hands over power.
"People asked who will fight for Mt Kenya when Uhuru retires. I want to assure you that I am here, I will fight for the people," he emphasised.
Gachagua added that he will duly guide the people of the region alongside President-elect William Ruto. Ruto's government, he also assured, will ensure Uhuru's retirement proceeds smooth and the head of state is catered for as enshrined in the Constitution.
"According to the Constitution, he will receive funding, cars and staff to work for him as part of his retirement package," Gachagua explained.
Before the elections, the outgoing Mathira Member of Parliament claimed that Uhuru was held hostage by cartels who lied to him that he was still the ultimate leader in Mt Kenya.
In his speech in Rongai, he reiterated that those inside Uhuru's circle lied to him about the popularity of Azimio La Umoja flagbearer Raila Odinga in Central Kenya.
"I had told Uhuru Kenyatta that it would be difficult to sell Raila Odinga in Mt Kenya. I told him the truth and he did not like it," he added.
According to Rigathi, the president is now aware of who his true friends are. Inclusive of himself, Gachagua named Ndindi Nyoro, Susan Kihika, and Kimani Ichungwa as Uhuru’s true allies who joined Ruto after falling out with the President.
He took a shot at Azimio La Umoja deputy presidential candidate, Martha Karua, for delivering underwhelming votes for Raila at her polling station. Raila garnered 311 votes (25.2 per cent) against Ruto's 911 votes (74 per cent) of the ballots cast at Kaua's Mugumo Primary School polling station.
Gachagua wooed Rongai residents to vote in favour of United Democratic Alliance's candidate Paul Chebor for the parliamentary election scheduled for Monday, August 29.
"People from Rongai, you have a chance to be in opposition or the government. No one plans to be in opposition, being in opposition is an accident," he stated.
Analysts state that Gachagua and Karua will battle to control the region after they were picked as running mates for William Ruto and Raila Odinga respectively. Uhuru in the past, however, reiterated that he will still have a say in the region's politics.
Ruto and Gachagua were declared president-elect and deputy president-elect respectively by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson, Wafula Chebukati on Monday, August 15. However, Raila and Karua filed a case at the Supreme Court seeking to challenge their victory.
Raila and Karua asked the Supreme Court to recount the presidential votes and declare them winners.
