Laikipia East MP dares Kiunjuri to form new political party

Laikipia East MP Amin Deddy Mohamed speaks in Nanyuki town on January 14, 2020 when he joined residents celebrating the sacking of Mr Mwangi Kiunjuri as Agriculture CS. The MP dared Mr Kiunjuri to form a new political party to rival Jubilee. PHOTO | JAMES MURIMI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Mohamed criticised Mr Kiunjuri for "sabotaging President Uhuru Kenyatta’s development agenda".
  • The Laikipia East MP praised the President for kicking Mr Kiunjuri from his Cabinet.
  • He exuded confidence that the reshuffle will spur more development at the grassroots.

Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri is facing a backlash in his backyard, with Laikipia East MP Amin Deddy Mohamed daring him to form a new political party to rival Jubilee.

Mr Mohamed criticised Mr Kiunjuri for ''sabotaging President Uhuru Kenyatta’s development agenda by entrenching 2022 political campaigns countrywide''.

"Word has it that he (Mr Kiunjuri) is looking forward to forming a new political party. How can you claim to be a staunch Jubilee supporter yet you are trying to compete with its party leader?" asked Mr Mohamed.

RESIDENTS CELEBRATE

The MP was speaking on Tuesday evening at Nanyuki Central Park after leading residents in celebrating Mr Kiunjuri's ouster from the Cabinet.

The MP further accused the former CS of using “his political muscle” to dictate his preferred leadership line-up in Laikipia County during elections.

"We dare you to try selling that political party here in Laikipia East. You will not get any follower because we are deeply focused on assisting the President in entrenching development," Mr Mohamed said.

"We have, over the years, been affected by bad leadership from our brother Mr Kiunjuri. Joblessness has hit our youth yet he has been busy feeding us with Kikuyu parables and riddles," the MP said.

Residents march in the streets of Nanyuki town on January 14, 2020 to celebrated the sacking of Mr Mwangi Kiunjuri from the Cabinet. PHOTO | JAMES MURIMI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

RESHUFFLE LAUDED

The Laikipia East MP praised the President for kicking Mr Kiunjuri from his Cabinet, exuding confidence that the reshuffle will spur more development at the grassroots.

"As residents of Laikipia East, we totally support the decision by the President to sack Mr Kiunjuri. We welcome the President here so that we can chart the way forward to empower our people economically," he said.

Last week, a section of leaders from Laikipia called on Mr Kiunjuri to spearhead the formation of a political party.

NEW PARTY PROPONENTS

Laikipia West's Patrick Mariru, Laikipia Deputy Governor John Mwaniki and Senator John Kinyua fronted Mr Kiunjuri to head the new party during the burial of Ngobit MCA Robert Maina's mother in Gituamba, Kieni East, in Nyeri County.

Mr Mariru said Mr Kiunjuri is best suited to take over from President Kenyatta as Mt Kenya's kingpin after the President exits power in 2022.

But Kieni MP Kanini Kega took issue with the sentiments, saying it was premature to focus on 2022 politics.

"People from the region have forgotten that they have the presidency and have gone ahead to campaign for other people for the same seat," Mr Kega said, adding that the presidency should be respected.

Mr Kiunjuri served as Laikipia East MP for 15 years and as an assistant minister before becoming a Cabinet Secretary in President Kenyatta’s administration.