Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has cast the 2026 General Election as a defining political moment for the Mt Kenya region, warning that its future influence in national leadership could hinge on the choices made ahead of the vote.
Ahmednasir criticised what he termed as political distractions within the region, pointing to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He argued that personal rivalries and rhetorical politics risk weakening Mt Kenya’s bargaining power at a critical time.
“Leave out Hon Rigathi Gachagua’s endless and at times nauseating political hyperbole. Cut out H.E Uhuru’s occult science of night running,” he said, signalling frustration with the current tone of political engagement.
Ahmednasir described the upcoming election as a “watershed” for the region, cautioning that failure to present a formidable presidential or deputy presidential candidate could shift national perceptions about Mt Kenya’s role in power-sharing.
“If they don’t produce a seriously presidential candidate or a running mate, they will normalise in the minds of other Kenyans that Mt Kenya’s turn for the presidency was spent on Jomo, Kibaki and Uhuru,” he stated.
He further warned that such a perception could embolden other regions to form alliances that deliberately exclude Mt Kenya from top leadership positions.
“The rest of Kenyans can always agree on a formula that excludes Mt Kenya from the prime cuts of the meat,” he added.
The remarks come at a time when political alignments are beginning to take shape ahead of 2026, with Mt Kenya widely viewed as a key voting bloc capable of influencing the outcome.
Ahmednasir also downplayed the significance of the ongoing political tensions between Gachagua and Uhuru, describing them as “parochial power games” that could ultimately harm the region’s collective interests.
“Gachagua and Uhuru may be playing parochial power games between themselves, but the grass they stand on may wither politically,” he said.
In a notable proposition, the lawyer pointed to Nyandarua Senator John Methu as a potential factor in reshaping the race, suggesting that his inclusion in a presidential ticket could significantly alter political dynamics.
“In my view, a ticket with Senator Methu of Nyandarua will be a nuclear bomb,” Ahmednasir remarked.