Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi was on Saturday coronated as the spokesperson of the Mt Kenya region.
The coronation ceremony was held at the Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga shrine in Gaturi, in Murang'a County under tight security.
After performing the traditional rites at the shrine and ceremony to decorate Speaker Muturi, speeches with prayers facing Mt Kenya were held.
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Leaders of Kikuyu elders' councils from 9 counties and representatives from the rest of the country were in attendance.
However, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has mocked the ceremony in an indirect message he shared on his Facebook page.
The MP took a swipe at the function because of the heavy security presence at the function.
Kuria shared a video of a contingent of security officers at the shrine and wrote; "I take this opportunity to congratulate my long term friend and boss Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi for being anointed to be Mt Kenya spokesman in a colourful event held at the sacred Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga and witnessed by thousands of jubilant Kikuyus as seen here."
Speaker Muturi's coronation attracted massive criticism from a section of leaders from the Mt Kenya region who said it is insignificant to the political future of the region.
Among the leaders who dismissed the ceremony include Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria and their Nakuru counterpart Lee Kinyanjui.
Governor Wa Iria's threat to block the ceremony from happening failed to materialize as heavy police deployment was to ostensibly thwart any plan to disrupt the function.
The retirement of President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022 has set the stage open for a fierce battle among the Mt Kenya leaders who are aspiring to succeed him as the region's kingpin.
