This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.
On November 15, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta held a meeting with Mt Kenya leaders at the State Lodge in Sagana, which attracted over 4,000 guests.
The event was closed to the media, and attendees were barred from carrying phones and other recording devices, with a few pro-government bloggers being exempted.
Speakers at the meeting were instructed to use the vernacular languages of Gikuyu, Kiembu, and Kimeru, and were highly vetted leaders who support President Kenyatta and the handshake with ODM Leader Raila Odinga.
Development issues discussed included support for the coffee and tea sectors, which are crucial to the Mt Kenya region, as well as the need for youth-friendly policies in government.
Politics also played a significant role in the meeting, with leaders seeking to assure President Kenyatta of his status as the region's kingpin.
Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia made a comment that seemed to target Deputy President William Ruto, suggesting that President Kenyatta should launch projects personally to prevent others from taking undue credit.
