Which way Mount Kenya region? This is the question a number of political pundits have been asking even as the region seem to not have a clear political path heading into 2022.
A Number of senior politicians from the area have been tasked with the duty of ensuring that the region is on the Political Map come 2022.
They are Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi.
The duo have since proposed that the region meets to pick a representative in Limuru.
Since 1966, Limuru town in Kiambu county has been the centre of regional politics.
The first conference came up with decisions to water down the powers of vice president Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and his eventual removal from the ruling party, Kanu.
There was no other meeting until 2012 when then Deputy prime minister Uhuru was anointed the Mt Kenya leader.
At the time, Uhuru, alongside Ruto and four others were facing crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
Seven years later and with the clock ticking towards the end of Uhuru presidency, leaders from the region are drumming up support for a “Limuru Three” summit to set the political agenda for the region.
According to Kiunjuri, time has come for members of Kiama kia Ma (Kikuyu elders), Njuri Ncheke (Meru elders), religious and political leaders to come together and set the post-2022 agenda for Mt Kenya region.
Whereas there seems to be a consensus that the region needs to have such a meeting, the leaders are divided on when it should take place.
While some believe it should be held soon, others say it should take place a year or less to the general election.
The leaders are in agreement that Mt Kenya is more divided politically than at any other time since 1992.
Two groups, Tanga Tanga and Kieleweke, pulling in different directions, have emerged.
The situation has left the region politically without direction.
Tanga Tanga is associated with leaders who support Ruto’s presidential bid while Kieleweke is opposed to that.
Since his reelection in 2017, Uhuru has reduced his tours to the region, confounding elected leaders.On the other hand, Ruto has pitched camp in Mt Kenya in a bid to solidify his support base ahead of the election.
Kiunjuri and Murungi are seen as potential kingpins of the region.
Senate deputy speaker Kindiki Kithure who has good relations with the president and Ruto was also being touted as a possible leader but he seems to have run short of selfconfidence.
Nominated MP Maina Kamanda who is the foremost leader of the Kieleweke group recently accompanied Baringo senator Gideon Moi, who for the first time joined the team opposed to Ruto’s presidential bid, to a church service in Meru.
They carried along MPs Maoka Maore, Gladys Wanga, Mercy Gakuya, William Kamket and former MP Silas Muriuki in the service.They claimed their group aimed at drumming up support for the war against corruption and push for a referendum to boost cohesion in the country.
However, it was not lost to observers that the group was indirectly campaigning for Gideon, who has declared interest in the presidential seat in 2022.