Laikipia East Member of the National Assembly Mwangi Kiunjuri has told off Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over the current storm in Mt. Kenya region, accusing him of being a political activist. Kiunjuri says DP Gachagua has the powers to push or lobby for necessary share of national cake for Mt. Kenya region through relevant institutions of government in which he is the second in command, rather than whining in public platforms.
Speaking during a morning show on local vernacular station Monday, Kiunjuri says Mt. Kenya region has a golden opportunity to ask for projects, based on the number of powerful individuals in government from this region.
”we have the deputy president from our region, we have the majority leader, CJ, CS for Treasury, CS for Water, CS for lands and many others from this region. Before we even castigate the government for allegedly short-changing the region, why can’t we first call a meeting of all these leaders and ask them these pertinent questions.” Kiunjuri said.
Kiunjuri was responding to calls by the Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua to push for a One Man, One Vote, one shilling formulae to ensure equality of vote in sharing the national cake. According to Kiunjuri, the deputy president should be offering a policy guideline for implementation of such proposals, which he believes can be done through the cabinet or a constitution review.
”the motion can be brought through cabinet which is usually done through the leader of majority. Those people who are yapping on the streets are member of that cabinet. They have the powers to even collect signatures for a constitutional review. What exactly are they telling us. They are actually playing political activism.” Kiunjuri said
The legislator said he is a supporter of the One Man One Shilling. One Vote formulae but proposes that this formula be pushed in a way that it will not antagonise Mt. Kenya region from other regions in the country.
” I am the only leader in this region who presented issues concerning Mount Kenya region at the NADCO committee, and this is documented. I have even called leaders from our region for meetings to push our agenda. I convened them in Embu, in Bunge and in Naivasha. How then did I become a betrayer of our people? This is ridiculous.” Kiunjuri said
The push for one man one shilling one vote has caused rifts in the Kenya Kwanza Government, with a section of leaders saying that implementing such a formula to disadvantage some regions.