NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 21 – Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has pledged to heed the call by Mt Kenya elders to unite the region, promising to engage leaders and communities across the mountain in a reconciliation drive ahead of the 2027 General Election.

📻 Breaking It Down

Kindiki said political differences among leaders should not be allowed to spill over into communities with shared historical, cultural and economic ties.

He said he had accepted the responsibility handed to him by elders at the Kirigiti Stadium gathering in Kiambu County, where representatives of the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru and Mbeere communities endorsed him as the region’s spokesperson and called for an end to political divisions.

“I have heard you and I will do so as directed,” Prof Kindiki said, signalling the beginning of what he described as a sustained effort to promote reconciliation and cohesion across Mt Kenya.

📌 What You Need to Know

The Deputy President said elders had a special role in preserving community unity because they were not competing for political positions.

“A community is formed by its elders, not politicians. When you leave the community to politicians, they will start dividing people because they are competing for political seats. Elders have nothing to gain. They are looking for peace for all generations of the community,” he said.

He urged leaders to respect divergent political views while ensuring disagreements did not become a source of hostility among residents.

“We must respect our elders. If you have an issue, seek out the elders and discuss it with them,” he said.

The remarks mark an early attempt by Prof Kindiki to translate the endorsement at Kirigiti into a region-wide political and reconciliation campaign.

At the weekend meeting, elders representing several Mt Kenya organisations declared their commitment to preserving unity among the Agikuyu, Ameru, Aembu and Ambeere communities and mandated Prof Kindiki to represent the region’s interests and aspirations.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya