Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged Mt Kenya leaders to respect elders and heed their call for unity, saying political differences should not be allowed to tear apart communities with a shared history, interests and aspirations.
Prof Kindiki said he had taken seriously the elders’ call for him to spearhead reconciliation and unity in the region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He said he would honour the elders’ guidance as he reaches out to communities in Mt Kenya East and West and works to rebuild a common political voice.
“I have heard you and I will do so as directed,” Prof Kindiki said, signalling the start of what is expected to be a sustained unity and reconciliation drive across the region.
The Deputy President spoke days after Mt Kenya elders gathered at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County and declared him a unifying factor for the region.
The elders called for unity among the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru and Mbeere communities and urged the region to remain politically cohesive as the country heads towards the 2027 elections.
They also expressed support for President William Ruto’s administration, giving Prof Kindiki a fresh platform to rally the region behind the President.
Prof Kindiki said leaders should respect political differences but avoid turning them into divisions that weaken the region.
He has repeatedly called for an end to attempts to split Mt Kenya along East-West lines, arguing that the communities have stronger historical, cultural and economic ties than the political differences separating them.
His appeal comes as political activity intensifies in the region, with rival political groups seeking to shape its political direction and claim influence ahead of 2027.
Prof Kindiki has now begun putting the elders’ directive into practice, combining his unity message with a series of development engagements across Mt Kenya East.
His first major engagements after the Kirigiti meeting included an inspection of works on the Mukothima-Gaciongo-Gatunga Road in Tharaka Constituency, Tharaka Nithi County.
He later addressed residents at Gaciongo Market during a public sensitisation event, using the engagements to link the call for unity with the Government’s development agenda.
The Deputy President has positioned roads, infrastructure and delivery of Government programmes as key components of his outreach, arguing that political leadership should ultimately be about improving people’s lives.
At Kirigiti, the elders urged Mt Kenya communities to maintain a common voice on matters affecting the region and rejected attempts to create separate political blocs.
Prof Kindiki’s immediate challenge is to translate the elders’ declaration into a broader reconciliation effort while persuading leaders across Mt Kenya to put aside personal political differences.
He is also expected to intensify his appeal for the region to remain united and support President Ruto as the 2027 political contest gathers pace.
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