The tussle on who between deputy president Rigathi Gachagua and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki should be Mt Kenya region kingpin continues to escalate.
Gachagua now seems to lose the backyard support he enjoyed when they won in August 2022 polls.
The clash is also appearing to split the region in the middle, an unusual development not witnessed before since the post-colonial administration.
What started as a dull push has now reached fever pitch.
On Monday elected leaders from Mt Kenya East; Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties; unanimously endorsed Kindiki, saying he is the man they want him to link them with the executive.
Today the move received a backing from elders from Mt Kenya East, indicating east is drifting away from Gachagua.
He now remains with wobbling support of the West which comprises of Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Nyandarua counties.
“To ensure we remain focused on development, we endorse the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Prof. Kithure Kindiki, to be the link between our region, the President and his Government. We believe his national stature will help foster good relations with other regions” the elders said in a statement.

They expressed gratitude to President William Ruto for appointing their sons Justin Muturi (Public Service), Prof. Kithure Kindiki (Interior), and Eng. Eric Mugaa (Water and Sanitation) to cabinet.
Saying; “We also appreciate the other appointments of our sons and daughters to high-ranking positions, showing the President’s trust in our region’s ability to contribute to the nation”.
Elected leaders who met a hotel in Embu to voice their support for endorse Kindiki include Mpuru Abuuri (Tigania East), Elizabeth Karamu (Woman Rep Meru), Geoffrey Ruku (Mbeere North), John Mutunga (Tigania West), John Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South).
Others were Senator Alexander Mudigi (Embu), Dan Kiili (Igembe Central), Gitonga Murugara (Tharaka), Pamela Njoki (Embu Woman Rep) and Kareke Mbiuki (Maara) and Mugambi (Buuri).