A group of political leaders from Arid and Semi-Arid regions have criticized a proposal by some Mt. Kenya region representatives to allocate the national cake based on population, calling it retrogressive.
The leaders also condemned Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for advocating the one-man-one-shilling mantra, arguing that it would further marginalize northern Kenya and pastoralist areas.
“We totally reject the mantra of one man one vote one shilling, we are not promoters of the same and if that has to exist then this team believes in one man one kilometer one shilling,” said former Tiaty MP Asman Kamama.
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The ex-MP said that land as a factor of production must be taken into account when sharing national resources saying they will reject any attempts to ‘steal resources meant for some regions by policy”.
“We are in Kenya by right and not by the invitation of anybody,” Kamama said.
Led by former Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro and ex-Garissa Governor Ali Korane, the leaders accused those advocating for the one-man-one-vote-one-shilling policy of being driven by selfish interests.
“Incrementally the rest of the country is being marginalized because the formula is skewed to befit populous regions,” former MP Isiolo South Abdul Bahari.
The issue appeared to unite leaders from northern Kenya, the Coast, and parts of the Rift Valley.
They convened a press conference at a Nairobi hotel.
Former Senator Mahalim Mohamud of Mandela remarked that there is an attempt to undermine the constitution and roll back the progress made.
“We urge the president to reject such an attempt to claw back the gains of the constitution by someone who want to behave like a village elder in Mt Kenya,” he said.
The leaders criticized Gachagua for reportedly endorsing the push for one-man-one-vote-one-shilling.
“We represent 70 per cent of Kenya and what to tell the DP that we as north Kenya leaders are not guests in Kenya.”
“His remarks remind me about about Charles Eliot saying he will not implore the queen to invest in the north because that would not benefit Kenya,” said Mahamud.
He claimed that Gachagua doesn’t appreciate equity in he distribution of resources yet there are regions that are marginalized for decades.
“Hasn’t Gachagua seen the constitution and when he took oath of office didn’t he say he will defend the constitution? Why has he become a regional leader?” he posed.
Korane expressed dismay that such remarks came from the Deputy President.
The leaders urged the Deputy President to step down and run for an elective position in his Mount Kenya region if he wishes to advocate for the interests of his constituents rather than those of all Kenyans.
“We have kept quite for long until the DP made remarks that fly in the face of the constitution that he swore to defend,” he said.
Gachagua expressed his support for the one-man-one-shilling-one-vote principle, aligning himself with the demand by Mt. Kenya leaders for increased resources.
This declaration has sparked outrage, even among certain Central Kenya leaders.
