MT KENYA WAR: Over 2,000 Njuri Ncheke Elders Throw Weight Over Kindiki As Their Kingpin
The Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders has appointed Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki as their representative in the Mt. Kenya East region.
The gathering decided to rally behind Prof. Kindiki as their liaison to the Kenya Kwanza government.
The elders spoke on Wednesday at a meeting attended by over 2,000 elders from Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties.
They emphasized that Kindiki has proven himself to be a close and reliable ally of President William Ruto, making him qualified to be the region’s kingpin, directing development in the area.
“We are here as Njuri Ncheke from two counties (Meru and Tharaka) so that we endorse Kithure Kindiki who is working well with our beloved President William Ruto. He is our own, mtoto yetu,” declared one of the elders.
Over 2,000 Njuri Ncheke elders have distanced themselves from DP @rigathi, endorsing Interior CS @KindikiKithure as the preferred leader for Mt. Kenya East. They cited Gachagua's divisive rhetoric and praised Kindiki's leadership for fostering unity and development. pic.twitter.com/H6xBro8Hh2
— rashid ramzi (@raashid_ramzi) September 18, 2024
“Today we endorse him as our kingpin, spokesman and the link between us, Mt Kenya East and the President. He will be the one we will be sending.
“We want him to speak to the President so that we can develop the region. Njuri Ncheke ikisema imesema na hakuna mwengine wa kwenda tofauti na vile tumesema.”
According to the elders, Mt. Kenya East has always favored the Western side over the years and they now believe it is time for reciprocity.
“We as the older politicians in the region have been supporting Mt. Kenya West since Kenyatta’s time, Moi, Kibaki and Uhuru. We were hoping that they would support us during Ruto’s term to at least have a deputy president,” said another elder.
The development occurs against the backdrop of a perceived schism in the region, with one section rallying behind Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the other supporting Kindiki.
Last week, elected members of Parliament from Mt. Kenya East pledged their support for Kindiki as their primary representative in the national executive.
This comes just days after the Mt. Kenya and Diaspora Parliamentary Leaders Forum approved the Interior Secretary as their primary liaison.
The 40 MPs from Mt. Kenya West and the diaspora signed the ‘Nyahururu Declaration,’ bringing the total number of legislators who support CS Kindiki to 69.
These continuous endorsements now appear to set the stage for a potential political clash between CS Kindiki and DP Gachagua over the control of Central region politics.
MT KENYA WAR: Over 2,000 Njuri Ncheke Elders Throw Weight Over Kindiki As Their Kingpin
