Kikuyu Town MP Kimani Ichungwa says the country is not ready for another President from the Central Kenya region, something which has informed their decision as legislators from the vote-rich region to back Deputy President William Ruto for the top seat in 2022.
Speaking in Nyandarua over the weekend, the legislator said they were duped in 2013 and 2017 to support one of their own whom he claims has impoverished the region and destroyed the businesses of locals through poor policies.
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”We were duped, but now we are wiser. They are again telling us to vote for one of us. We are not going to be slaves again. We have had a government with a President from Kiambu and cabinet secretaries from Mt Kenya. But we have ended up impoverished by the same government we claim is ours,” the MP said while accompanying DP Ruto for a thanksgiving ceremony in Rurii ward.
Other MPs present were Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Ben Washiali (Mumias East), Cecily Mbarire (Nominated), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga), Owen Baya (Kilifi North), John Kiarie (Dagoretti South), and Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) and women representatives Rahab Mukami (Nyeri) and Faith Gitau (Nyandarua).
When he rose to speak, the deputy president steered clear of the debate instead, calling on leaders to put the interests of Kenyans first.
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“The people I walk with are elected leaders. We are in the Hustler Movement together. They are not self-seeking and they are not interested with seats and power. All we want is to empower the common man economically. We want to increase earnings from coffee and tea and put the interest of the people first,” he said.