A photo collage of Wangui Ngirici and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku/COURTESY
Former Kirinyaga Woman Representative Wangui Ngirici and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku have exchanged political barbs over the debate surrounding the unity of the Mt Kenya region.
Ngirici criticised Ruku over what she described as his silence on claims of divisions within the region, sarcastically suggesting that the CS had gone quiet despite his earlier comments on the matter.
“Someone please check on CS Ruku. His silence on splitting the mountain is getting unusually loud,” Ngirici said.
She also used geological imagery to mock Ruku following his remarks on the debate over a political split between Mt Kenya West and East.
“We were promised geological activity, but the man has gone completely seismically silent,” she added.
Ngirici maintained that the region remained united, dismissing suggestions of a political split within Mt Kenya.
“The mountain is united,” she said.
Ruku, however, appeared to respond with a brief but pointed message, suggesting that the political process was already yielding results.
“Imepasuka!” Ruku said.
He added: “Sasa ni beacons tunapigilia one by one!”
Ngirici’s remarks come amid renewed calls by some leaders from Mt Kenya East for greater political recognition and bargaining power for Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi.
Ruku has publicly advocated for Mt Kenya East to pursue a separate political identity from Mt Kenya West, a position that has drawn opposition from leaders who support the region’s political unity.
He has argued that the eastern bloc has not received what he considers its fair share of influence within the broader Mt Kenya political establishment.
Ruku said the push was not intended to create divisions among the Kikuyu, Meru and Embu communities but to address what he described as historical political imbalances.
“I am not splitting the mountain. I’m just saying the truth,” while insisting that unfair treatment of Mt Kenya East must end,” he said at a past event.
Ruku said that although the Mt Kenya region has remained united throughout Kenya’s political history, counties in the eastern bloc, Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi, had for decades supported leaders from the western side of the region without complaint.
According to the CS, leaders and residents of Mt Kenya East have consistently backed their counterparts from Mt Kenya West for more than six decades and are now seeking similar support.
“We have supported the West over the years, again and again, for more than 60 years, and we have never complained. This unfair treatment has to come to an end,” Ruku said.
“We fought for the independence of our nation together as a mountain. We have been in government together through the administrations of Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta and even William Ruto. We formed these governments together as a people,” he said.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has, however, opposed the proposal, saying Mt Kenya remains one and should not be split along political lines.