Itumbi urges Kirinyaga to forge unique identity beyond Mt Kenya politics

Presidential adviser Dennis Itumbi has called on residents of Kirinyaga County to establish a unique political identity focused on their development priorities, rather than being influenced by broader Mt Kenya political discourse. Itumbi emphasized that Kirinyaga should concentrate on issues impacting its residents and leverage its collective voice to impact politicians and government on matters such as agriculture, road infrastructure, and public appointments.

"We are neither west nor east, we are Kirinyaga," Itumbi asserted. He challenged the community to move beyond political slogans and instead formulate a clear development agenda that politicians would need to endorse. "We don’t want to slogania our way into development. We want to compile our own development," he stated.

During a speech on August 31, 2026, Itumbi highlighted rice farming as a cornerstone of Kirinyaga's economy, advocating for the county to aim to become the top rice producer in Africa, not just Kenya. He also raised concerns about the county's road network, pointing out that Kirinyaga shoulders a disproportionate population burden per kilometer of road compared to neighboring Nyeri.

"Every kilometer serves 1,000 people. In Kirinyaga, 1 kilometer of road serves 5,000 people," Itumbi noted, arguing that this disparity should be a priority in the county's development agenda. He further urged highly skilled professionals from Kirinyaga to be considered for government positions, emphasizing that the county possesses a wealth of highly qualified individuals who should be given opportunities.

Itumbi clarified that this initiative should not be perceived solely as a political move, stating that residents should unite and present their priorities to leaders. "We don’t come as politicians. We come as Kirinyaga, neutral to the table for us our issues to be addressed," he emphasized. Itumbi called for Kirinyaga residents to break away from the traditional model where politicians set the agenda for voters.

"We want to change the game of politics. It is not politicians telling us what they want to do; it is us telling them what we feel we need," he argued, suggesting that politicians should align with the priorities identified by residents. He referenced former Chief Justice Martha Karua, suggesting that Kirinyaga has yet to organize itself politically around its own interests.

"As we speak now, the Honourable Martha Karua would be the president of the Republic of Kenya," Itumbi remarked. He urged residents to organize ahead of the 2027 General Election and establish Kirinyaga's political direction independently of politicians. "The politics of 2027, we are going to determine it as the people of Kirinyaga, not the politicians of Kirinyaga," Itumbi concluded, criticizing the habitual reliance on party slogans and affiliations, advocating for a new political narrative centered on the county's unique interests.