Kenyan Ambassador to Netherlands Halima Mucheke has urged the Meru community to insist on retaining the deputy president position in future political alignments, saying the region should not support any presidential candidate who does not guarantee it.
Speaking during a radio interview, Mucheke said Meru has for years been politically sidelined and should now make the deputy presidency its minimum bargaining point, even when engaging opposition formations such as Wiper Democratic Movement led by Kalonzo Musyoka, Democracy for Citizens party (DCP) of Rigathi Gachagua, Jubilee Party of Fred Matiang’i or other emerging alliances.
She said President William Ruto had given the Ameru community significant recognition through the appointment of Prof Kithure Kindiki as deputy president, adding that the community should protect that position politically.
“Am confidence that President Ruto will back Kindiki in 2032. DP Kindiki is a leader capable of advancing the region’s interests. Am cautioning the Meru residents against listening to the opposition incitement,” said Mucheke.
She also praised Ruto for appointing six ambassadors from Meru, saying no previous administration had given the region similar diplomatic representation.
Meru County government Chief of Staff Dr Julius Mbijiwe has also been appointed as the Vatican Ambassador and is waiting for the parliamentary vetting.
Mucheke defended the government’s economic management, saying Kenya’s economy had previously deteriorated and the instability of the Kenya shilling had become frustrating, but maintained that Ruto understands how to steer recovery.
“The ongoing projects in Meru, including affordable housing, road works, electricity connectivity and expansion of Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital, demonstrate that development is taking place under the current administration,” noted the Ambassador.
The ambassador also renewed criticism of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, claiming he dismissed women leaders who sought political inclusion after campaigning for Kenya Kwanza in 2022.
According to Mucheke, she and other women leaders approached Gachagua after losing elective seats to affirm support for the government, but he allegedly blamed her for UDA’s gubernatorial loss in Meru and told her she would receive nothing.
Impeached Governor Kawira Mwangaza won against UDA’S Mithika Linturi and Kiraitu Murungi.
She said she later relocated to Kitengela and focused on private business until Ruto appointed her chairperson of the Kenya Tourism Authority before later naming her ambassador to Netherlands in March 2024.
Mucheke said her diplomatic assignment in The Hague involves representing Kenya in bilateral and multilateral engagements, meeting investors and maintaining relations with institutions such as the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court and the Common Fund for Commodities.
She said embassies also support Kenyans in the diaspora, promote tourism, coordinate cultural events and report directly to the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
On miraa trade, Mucheke said she had explored reopening international markets but acknowledged that legal restrictions in some countries remain difficult to reverse despite earlier engagement with traders.
She further questioned Gachagua’s criticism of the government, saying he had strongly defended the administration while serving as deputy president and asking why he now claims there is no visible development.
Edited by John Majau
