By Our Correspondent
Deputy President Dr William Ruto is today expected to close a one-day economic consultative meeting by Nyeri County leaders affiliated to his UDA party.
The meeting that will bring together over 2000 leaders from all sectors of the economy and has been convened by Mathira Member of Parliament, Rigathi Gachagua and County Women Rep. Ms Rahab Mukami.
Gachagua who is also a member of Ruto’ s seven member consultative committee has been at the forefront in championing for the interests of the Mt Kenya region in the projected hustler government will kick off the deliberations that will culminate in proposals to be included in the UDA manifesto.
Among participants in the deliberations are business leaders, coffee, tea farmers, dairy, horticultural farmers, bodaboda leaders, mama mboga leaders and various other sectoral leaders.
The county is famed for its quality coffee and tea, recognized as the best in the world, but farmers live in abject poverty.
Leaders in the region have demanded for introduction of Guaranteed Minimum Returns (GMR) for all cash crops that would ensure farmers get value for their sweat.
The meeting is however likely to arouse tensions as two factions have emerged in the party where Incumbent governor Mutahi Kahiga and sitting MCAs are being accused of being hellbent on locking out the 100 aspirants threatening their continued grip onto power.
UDA county cordinator Wahome Wamatinga however says that the party will not favour anybody during nominations and particularly in the county.
Saying the meeting is timely, former Nyeri mayor Wanyaga Gathaka is seeking to be the next Nyeri Town Constituency MP said the meeting’s blueprint will guide the government which Dr Ruto will form in knowing the interests of Nyeri people.
Dennis Dibondo