Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki has urged leaders from the Mt Kenya region to respect the guidance of elders and work together to preserve unity, peace and shared interests ahead of the 2027 General Election. His appeal follows a major gathering of elders at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County, where Kindiki was endorsed as a spokesperson and unifying figure for the wider region.
Kindiki said political competition should not be allowed to destroy relationships among communities that share deep historical, cultural and economic ties. He maintained that the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru and Mbeere communities have more interests binding them together than political differences separating them, urging leaders to protect cohesion even when they hold divergent political views.
The Deputy President has demonstrated resilience by embracing the elders’ directive and taking responsibility for advancing reconciliation across Mt Kenya East and West. “I have heard you, and I will do so as directed,” Kindiki said, signalling his willingness to translate the elders’ call into sustained engagement, dialogue and unity-building across the region.
The Kirigiti gathering brought together elders representing different Mt Kenya communities, who reaffirmed their commitment to preserving regional unity. Their declaration warned that political divisions and ethnic fragmentation could undermine social cohesion, economic wellbeing and the region’s long-term prosperity. They subsequently endorsed Kindiki as their spokesperson and representative in advancing regional interests and aspirations.
Kindiki’s response presents him as a dedicated principal assistant to President William Ruto, seeking to combine political responsibility with service delivery. Rather than allowing the debate over regional leadership to remain centred on personalities and political contests, he has increasingly linked his unity message to the practical needs of citizens, including roads, water, electricity, markets and other public infrastructure.
The Deputy President has also sought to discourage attempts to create a permanent political divide between Mt Kenya East and West. He argues that such divisions risk weakening communities that have historically cooperated on social and economic matters. His message is that political disagreements can exist without becoming permanent community divisions or undermining cooperation.
For Kindiki, unity is therefore closely connected to development. During his recent engagements in Tharaka Nithi, he inspected infrastructure projects and addressed residents at Gaciongo and Matiri markets, using the engagements to emphasise that political leadership should ultimately translate into better services, stronger connectivity and improved economic opportunities for citizens.
His inspection of the Mukothima-Gaciongo-Gatunga road further illustrated this approach. The road is among infrastructure projects being advanced in Tharaka Nithi, alongside other proposed road links, market improvements and initiatives aimed at expanding access to electricity and water. The projects demonstrate Kindiki’s effort to place tangible development alongside his message of regional reconciliation.
Kindiki has consequently framed leadership around service to Kenyans first, arguing that political differences should not overshadow the delivery of government programmes. This approach contrasts with his criticism of what he portrays as opposition politics centred on confrontation and rhetoric rather than a clearly articulated alternative development agenda. His stated emphasis remains on roads, infrastructure, economic opportunities and government services.
The Deputy President has also highlighted the special role of elders in maintaining community cohesion. He argues that elders can provide mediation and guidance without being driven by competition for elective positions, making them important interlocutors in preventing political disagreements from escalating into broader social divisions. He has pledged government support for elders’ efforts to engage young people and promote peace and cohesion.
As political activity intensifies ahead of 2027, Kindiki’s unity campaign is likely to remain closely linked to the Government’s development agenda. The elders at Kirigiti called for peaceful political participation and a united regional approach, while also expressing support for President Ruto’s administration and citing investments in infrastructure and agriculture as areas of importance to Mt Kenya communities.
Ultimately, Kindiki’s message is that the interests of ordinary Kenyans should remain at the centre of political leadership. His appeal for Mt Kenya leaders to heed elders, reject divisive politics and focus on development reflects his effort to establish himself as a resilient and hands-on Deputy President whose role goes beyond political contestation to reconciliation, government delivery and national service.
