A lunch meeting between Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri and former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has sparked speculation among Kenyans about a potential new political alliance. The meeting took place on Tuesday amid recent changes in President William Ruto’s administration.

Kuria’s Reflection on Past and Present

In a post on his X page, Kuria shared that Kiunjuri had treated him to lunch shortly after it was announced that Kuria would not be renominated for a Cabinet position. Kuria recounted that he had taken Kiunjuri out for lunch in 2020 when Kiunjuri lost his position as a Cabinet Secretary. “On January 14, 2020, my friend Festus Mwangi Kiunjuri was fired from Cabinet. On that day, I took him out for lunch. Today, my brother has returned the favour. It was a good lunch. Asante Mwangi,” Kuria wrote.

Kiunjuri Criticizes Mt Kenya’s Role in Cabinet Selections

Kuria was recently dismissed by President Ruto, along with several other Cabinet Secretaries, on July 11. Following the lunch, Kiunjuri made a statement regarding the selection of ODM leaders into Ruto’s Cabinet, which included ODM deputy party leaders Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, chairman John Mbadi, and National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi.

Kiunjuri criticized the Mt Kenya region for facilitating this political shift, suggesting that the region had courted opposition figures. “It is not Ruto who looked for Raila. It is us Mt Kenya who have looked for Raila. You cannot be at a table with your plate and start asking for those held by others for your selfish gain,” he said.

Speculation of a New Political Alliance

The lunch meeting and Kiunjuri’s comments have led to widespread speculation about the possibility of a new political coalition forming, as observers and the public consider the implications of these interactions.