Mt Kenya East rebrands party to support Muturi in 2022 general elections
Mount Kenya East region has registered a new party as its members seek to use it as a bargaining bloc in succession politics.
The Restore and Build Kenya Party which was formerly owned by former Permanent Secretary Professor James Ole Kiyiapi would see former Embu senator Lenny Kivuti be poised as the chairman two months ago.
Under the leadership of Kivuti the party changed its name to Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP).
While speaking in Kiambere in Mbeere South during a launch of Kiambere ward van donated to the residents Kivuti said the party will dominate Mt Kenya East politics and the region at large.
The party bears a symbol of a bus which was used in the Alliance Party of Kenya which dominated Mt Kenya East in 2013.
Kivuti said this was a revival of the famous bus party so that the region can have its own party for political direction ahead of 2022.
"We want the new bus party to be a national party, this is not a new party and we had just parked it somewhere it’s high time we pick the keys so Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi have their own party," Kivuti said.
Kivuti who is an aspiring governor in Embu County urged those who want their political star to shine in 2022 to board the new party.
"Those who want goodies it's time to enter the bus party, a bus with a bigger space to accommodate more people, how many people can a wheelbarrow carry? We shall know about the wheelbarrow later how we can sell it," Kivuti said.
His sentiments were echoed by Mumenji Member of County Assembly (MCA) Newton Karis who urged Mt Kenya East leaders and its residents to support the party so that they can have say in national politics.
He pleaded with the East region not to accept misuse by other political parties without knowing how they will benefit after election but instead back and support their own party.
Kiambere ward MCA Lenny Mwaniki described the Devolution Empowerment Party as the only sure bet towards 2022 election and the face of Mt Kenya East.
Leaders from Mt Kenya East had promised that they will form a new political party that will champion their interest.
In a meeting at Speaker Justin Muturi's rural home in Kanyuambora in Mbeere North last month, the leaders said the party will be a vehicle in which speaker Muturi will use to run for the presidency in the upcoming general elections.
There was a planned meeting for all Mt Kenya East leaders which was to be held in Chuka, Tharaka Nithi County to have a major on the party the Mt Kenya East will launch his presidential bid.
The meeting was however postponed three times and this may have been away to create time for completion of the registration of the new party.
"We are tired when everyone stands in a podium and say he or she has brothers and sisters from Mt Kenya East, seeking our support and after clinching the seat we are forgotten, we must have our own party,” Njagangua said.
Muturi has since declared his candidature for the presidential race in the next general election but his party is yet to reveal the official party he will use as he seeks to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The formation of the Devolution Empowerment Party may scatter Deputy president William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga efforts to penetrate well in Mt Kenya East if that is the party leaders from East will back speaker Muturi to use to seek the presidency.
Kivuti who is a close confidant of speaker Muturi has already declared his full support for Muturi's Presidential bid.
The Democratic Party [DP] last month declared speaker Muturi as its presidential candidate.
''Muturi is a tested leader, a man of integrity. We are convinced that he is the person who can lead this country to prosperity, ‘the party's delegates said in a meeting in Nyeri County.
Muturi had earlier told grass root leaders from Mt Kenya East that he did not have a lot of confidence in the national parties given that some people wanted to use them to ascend to the top seat in the country but assured them that he would be announcing his party of choice soon.
''I JB Muturi hereby declare my candidature for the position of president of the Republic of Kenya come 2022. Very soon i will also declare the party on which i will use in my quest to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta and I urge you to join me on this journey of bringing back integrity to Kenya,” Muturi stated.
