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The supremacy battle is threatening to split leaders from the eastern region including Meru, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi and Embu against their counterparts in central Kenya and the Rift Valley. Each segment is pushing for the country’s second top job in 2022.

A section of Gema allied leaders led by said Tharaka-Nithi Woman Representative Beatrice Nkatha have demanded that given they have supported Mwai Kibaki, Jomo Kenyatta and Uhuru Kenyatta in the previous elections, they too should be given the DP post in 2022.

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“We are very clear this time. We expect central Kenya to support a person from Mount Kenya East in 2022 without fail,” said Ms Nkatha as quoted by the Nation.

Her sentiments have been echoed by a host of leaders from the region including Chuka/Igambang’ombe MP Patrick Munene and Tharaka Nithi Senator Prof Kithure Kindiki. They collectively agree that the DP should come from the larger Meru, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi and Embu region.

But on their part, leaders from Murang’a and Kiambu led by Senator Irungu Kang’ata and Gatundu South’s Moses Kuria, have poured cold water on the demands, adding that the candidate will eventually come from Murang’a.

Others have expressed reservations, adding that the DP should be left to choose his running mate instead. Earlier, the DP was seen with former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, sparking yet another controversy in Jubilee succession politics.