Allies of President William Ruto who have been kicked out of government are now planning to form a political party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Impeached deputy president Rigathi Gachagua is said to have already initiated the process of acquiring The New Democrats (TND) Party early this year after his differences with the president widened.
Gachagua and former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi have since expressed their regret for joining the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) without a clear agreement with the party leader.
On Sunday, Mr Gachagua expressed his disappointment with president Ruto for allowing his ouster and persecution despite the support he gave him.
“When we were forming UDA, I trusted President Ruto but other politicians demanded an MOU. I am shocked that President Ruto, a man I helped become president, can be so vicious against me,” Gachagua said.
Earlier, Mr Gachagua said the Mt Kenya voters would lose their trust in President Ruto if the impeachment sailed through.
Over the weekend, Mr Linturi, while voicing his protest against the impeachment of Gachagua, said time was ripe for Meru leaders to have a political party for the region.
He regretted that Gachagua and his Mt Kenya allies teamed up with President Ruto without a structured agreement.
“When you enter into negotiations while structured, you come out better and stronger and cannot be easily targeted.
Today, I regret that when everybody else was negotiating using a political party, gachagua and I said we believe and trust you. Because of this, we have been kicked out,” the former CS said.
He warned Mt Kenya politicians against going to the next election without a clear memorandum.
“As Meru leaders, we must put our house in order and organise ourselves well. We should not be lured into other people’s political vehicles. They will throw you out of the vehicle midway and there is nothing you can do,” Linturi added.
He said he was easily removed from cabinet because they did not have any written contract with the President.
“When the cabinet was disbanded, those who had signed an agreement through a political party were never kicked out. This is because they have a five-year contract. This is why Alfred Mutua, Musalia Mudavadi, Justin Muturi and Moses Kuria are still in government,” Linturi said.
He said the Meru community, which has about 1 million registered voters, should have a bigger say in government.
“Going forward, we will engage all leaders to come up with our own political party. No one should lie to us again that having a political party is tribalism. If forming a political party is tribalistic, let it be,” he said.
Linturi condemned the manner in which Gachagua was hounded out of office terming it against the rules of natural justice.
“I am speaking because I am shocked by the way Gachagua was treated. When I was kicked out, all the leaders kept quiet, now that Gachagua is facing an ouster, I must speak out,” Linturi said.
He claimed that Gachagua has been condemned for being truthful.
