East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Maina Karobia has cautioned against efforts to split the Mt Kenya region into East and West ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In an interview with K24 TV on August 5, 2026, Karobia urged leaders from the region to focus on uniting their support base rather than fostering divisions along county or sub-regional lines.
Rejecting calls for division
Karobia, who credits his political success to the solidarity of the entire Mt Kenya region, condemned those advocating for fragmentation. "Any person who is involved in the conversation of dividing the mountain is self-defeating," he said.
The EALA MP stressed that a divided Mt Kenya would dilute its bargaining power during national coalition talks, especially as presidential hopefuls seek to build broad alliances ahead of the elections.
Unity key to political strength
He explained that presidential candidates expect representatives from Mt Kenya to present a unified front. "You'd better have 40% of the larger Mt Kenya region than having 100% of the Mt Kenya East region," Karobia noted.
Karobia also highlighted that constituencies with larger voter populations wield greater political influence, citing Thika Town's significance compared to smaller areas like Mbeere North.
Context of ongoing debate
His remarks come amid calls by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku for increased recognition of Mt Kenya East's political interests. Ruku's comments have intensified discussions on whether the region should maintain a single political voice or pursue separate agendas.
As parties and coalitions position themselves ahead of the 2027 polls, Karobia insists that preserving Mt Kenya's unity is essential to maintain its leverage in national politics and coalition negotiations.
