Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku/HANDOUT
Public Service Cabinet
Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has intensified his call for Mt Kenya East to chart its
own political and development path.
He said Mt Kenya East should
not fear separating from Mt Kenya West if doing so would guarantee a fairer
share of national resources.
Speaking in Thagicu, Mbeere North, Wednesday,
Ruku said Mt Kenya West and Mt Kenya East should go separate ways if such an
arrangement would address what he described as longstanding disparities in
development and resource allocation.
The Cabinet Secretary said
political unity should not come at the expense of development, arguing that the
interests of residents should take priority over maintaining a united political
bloc.
He said Mt Kenya East should
be willing to pursue a separate political path if doing so would improve its
chances of securing development projects and greater representation in
government.
“If splitting the mountain
will get us electricity, then let it be so. If splitting the mountain will see
Mt Kenya East get tarmac roads, let it be so,” Ruku stated.
Ruku further argued that the
region should consider going separate ways if such a move would improve
President William Ruto’s chances of securing re-election in the 2027 General
Election.
He also said a split could be
justified if it enhanced the prospects of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki
succeeding Ruto as President after the latter completes his second term.
His remarks are likely to
reignite debate over the political identity of the Mt Kenya region, which has
traditionally been viewed as a major voting bloc with significant influence in
national elections.
Ruku has in recent months
stepped up his advocacy for a distinct political identity for Mt Kenya East,
comprising Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties.
He has argued that the
eastern bloc has historically not received a fair share of national development
compared with Mt Kenya West and that residents should rethink their political
strategy to secure greater benefits from the national government.
Infrastructure has been at
the centre of Ruku’s argument, with the CS repeatedly citing roads, electricity
and other development projects as areas where he believes Mt Kenya East
continues to face disparities.
He has also urged residents
of the region to support Ruto’s administration while backing Kindiki as a
potential future presidential contender.
Former presidential adviser
Moses Kuria has cautioned Ruku against what he described as efforts to split Mt
Kenya.
Kuria acknowledged the
concerns raised by the CS but argued that the region would be better placed to
negotiate for its interests if it remained politically united.
