Embu: A section of Mt. Kenya youth leaders affiliated with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has called on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to cease ‘masquerading’ as the regional spokesperson.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Mt. Kenya UDA Youth League has declared Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki as the authentic voice of the Mt. Kenya region, urging Gachagua to show respect towards him.
The youth leaders expressed their views during a press briefing in Embu town, highlighting that the outcome of the recent Mbeere North By-election clearly signaled the region’s political stance. They argued that the election of UDA’s candidate was a ‘direct endorsement’ of Prof. Kindiki’s leadership in the area.
Peterson Mirichii, the Youth League Chair, emphasized that Leonard Wa Muthende’s victory over Newton Kariuki, who was supported by Gachagua, was a decisive statement of the region’s support for Kindiki. Mirichii characterized the Mbeere North contest as more than a By-election, describing it as a referendum on the trusted political leader for Mt. Kenya’s future.
The youth leaders criticized Gachagua’s regional mobilization efforts, accusing him of fostering unnecessary division. They insisted that any individual claiming to be the Mt. Kenya kingpin without the people’s mandate is misleading the public.
Furthermore, the youth praised the UDA’s performance in the recent By-elections, noting that the party secured 12 out of 24 seats nationally. They claimed this victory reaffirmed the UDA’s dominant position in Kenya’s political landscape.
Mirichii also commended Prof. Kindiki for his unifying leadership, stating that he has proven himself as a stabilizing force and principal leader of the region. The youth leaders urged local leaders and residents to put aside ‘political factionalism’ and support the region’s collective agenda. They also called out those who won under the UDA banner but are now promoting another party’s agenda, urging them to recommit or resign honorably.
Samuel Kinyua, another youth leader, encouraged young people from the Mt. Kenya counties to join the party’s youth wing, assume leadership roles, and contribute to building a policy-driven, future-oriented movement.
