Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has been formally endorsed as the spokesperson of the Mt Kenya region.
A large assembly of elders from the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru, and Mbeere communities gathered at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County, declaring that the mountain will remain one undivided political and cultural bloc.
The event marked Kindiki’s most high-profile engagement yet with traditional leaders from Mt Kenya West following months of outreach in the East. Key traditional bodies signed a joint declaration mandating the Deputy President to advance the region’s interests, including:
- Kiama Kia Ma
- Kikuyu Council of Elders
- Njuri Ncheke
- Kiama Kia Muembu
- Ngome
- Nyangi Ndiriri
Organisers estimated attendance at over 30,000 elders across 11 counties, with some reports placing the crowd above 50,000. Many arrived in traditional attire, singing as they entered the grounds. Both Kindiki and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku were dressed in ceremonial regalia before proceedings began.
A Venue Heavy with History
Kindiki called it a privilege to appear at Kirigiti, highlighting the stadium’s historic weight.
“I count myself as a very lucky person because this Kirigiti stadium is where Jomo Kenyatta was made the leader of our community,” Kindiki told the gathering.
He pledged to use the mandate to unite the mountain and reject politics that divide communities along East–West lines.
The Elders’ Core Declarations
- Reaffirmed Unity: The three-page statement stressed historical, social, economic, and cultural ties among the Agikuyu, Ameru, Aembu, and Ambeere.
- Official Mandate: “We hereby endorse and mandate Kithure Kindiki to serve as our spokesperson and representative in advancing the interests and aspirations of the Mount Kenya Region.”
- Broader Role: Beyond politics, the elders positioned themselves as custodians of community wisdom, mediation, and reconciliation, calling on elected leaders to work together for national prosperity.
The Axe is Put Down
The day’s most closely watched ritual centered on CS Geoffrey Ruku, who had recently been linked to campaigns pushing for a distinct “Mt Kenya East” identity—a move critics called an attempt to “pasua mlima” (split the mountain).
- Symbolic Surrender: Ruku handed a symbolic axe back to the elders.
- Task of Reconciliation: In return, elders presented him with a flywhisk, tasking him with promoting regional unity.
Ruku later posted that elders from both East and West agreed to move forward as one undivided region under Kindiki’s leadership, effectively ending the debate over splitting the mountain.
To seal the ceremony, elders shared three goats—one each for the Gikuyu, Embu, and Meru—framing the mountain as a shared cultural symbol rather than a political prize.
Politics Before 2027
Saturday’s gathering was the first major effort to convert eastern support into a mountain-wide traditional mandate:
- August (Meru): Njuri Ncheke elders crowned Kindiki with a spear, sword, and ceremonial dress while backing the Ruto–Kindiki ticket.
- Follow-up (Embu): Mt Kenya East elders endorsed the same ticket, asking the West to reciprocate decades of political support.
- Kirigiti (Kiambu): The movement expanded into the Western bloc.
Kindiki, who hails from Tharaka Nithi, maintained that the Deputy President’s seat is not vacant and urged the region to speak with one voice on development, infrastructure, and agriculture.
Pushback from Rivals
Not everyone accepted the assembly as representative:
- Moses Kuria (Former CS): Criticised using Kirigiti—a historic site of the independence struggle—for what he called a divisive agenda.
- Karungo wa Thang’wa (Kiambu Senator): Mocked the turn-out, claiming many attendees were bussed in from Kindiki’s home county.
- Rigathi Gachagua (Former DP): Remarked that those who tried to split the region had “given up.”
These reactions highlight the ongoing battle for influence in Kenya’s most populous voting bloc. While Kindiki’s camp views Kirigiti as proof of rebuilding unity ahead of the 2027 General Election, critics see an organized campaign to lock in a Ruto–Kindiki ticket and sideline rival power centers in Kiambu and Nyeri.
What the Mandate Means
On paper, the elders have assigned Kindiki a clear cultural brief: speak for the mountain, keep it united, and champion its development goals.
In practice, the true test lies ahead:
- Will Western Kikuyu councils treat this mandate as binding?
- Will elected MPs and governors align with the decision?
- Can symbolic rituals withstand the realities of campaign strategy?
For now, the Deputy President leaves Kirigiti with a signed declaration and a powerful new title: Spokesperson of Mt Kenya. While elders insist the mountain will not be split, the political landscape of 2027 will decide how long that unity holds.