Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has turned to elders to unite the Mt Kenya voting bloc in his favour ahead of the 2027 General Election.
On Saturday, Prof Kindiki met thousands of elders from Mt Kenya East, who endorsed him for the DP seat in next August's poll, even as the Second in Command tasked them with engaging their colleagues from the West on how the vote-rich Mt Kenya region can become one solid bloc.
At the same time, Prof Kindiki called out his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua , for undermining him and being disrespectful.
“When you hear me addressing you as my brother, it is not because I fear you nor because I love you so much, because you have a lot of disrespect. I am trying to love you, but you have a lot of disrespect. I don't know what kind of human being you are. You disrespect your seniors, juniors and your brother. Now, how can you be the only right man in the whole world? You have to live well with your brothers,” Prof Kindiki said, saying that arrogance saw the former DP pushed out of office.
“Do not push me to start revealing secrets, the way I tried to help you not to move out of office, but you refused to listen to me.”
“Those who are after a seat should know the position of the Deputy President is not vacant. Someone is already occupying it and he is fully on it on behalf of the people of Kenya,” the DP noted.
He was accompanied by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku and Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi.
Elders from Mt Kenya East at Nembure Stadium in Embu County on August 15,2026. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki tasked them to unite Mt Kenya East and West.
Photo credit: George Munene | Nation Media Group
Others were MPs Nebart Muriuki (Mbeere South), Eric Muchangi (Runyenjes) and George Murugara (Tharaka).
He vowed to ensure that the two regions are brought together so that they can speak with one voice on matters of politics and development.
Further, he said the two regions should work together to ensure that President William Ruto is re-elected.
“I want to plead with my younger brother, Hon Ruku, and our team: Stop blaming our brothers and sisters from Mount Kenya West because there is no vote that has been cast and they have refused to vote for us. Therefore, we should be patient and give our elders a chance to engage in dialogue with their fellow elders from other regions of Mount Kenya. I have faith that these elders will unite all the communities in Mount Kenya, and all of us from this region of Mount Kenya East have received leaders from Mount Kenya West. This time round, even Mount Kenya West will embrace leadership from Mount Kenya East,” said Prof Kindiki.
During the extraordinary meeting, the elders, comprising officials and members of Njuri Ncheke (Meru), Nyaangi Ndiriri (Mbeere), Kiama Kia Muembu (Embu) and Mwea Council of Elders, issued a declaration demanding respect for the Deputy President, citing his political seniority in government and maturity in the push for unity in the Mt Kenya region and the country.
In calling for reciprocity for previously supporting leaders from Mt Kenya West, they asked their counterparts to back the DP just as they did for the former three presidents and two vice presidents who hailed from the region.
Elders from Mt Kenya East at Nembure Stadium in Embu County on August 15,2026.
Photo credit: DPCS
“We collectively, as the people of Mount Kenya East, supported President Jomo Kenyatta for 15 years, Mwai Kibaki as Vice President for 12 years and later as President for 10 years, Vice Presidents Joseph Karanja and George Kinuthia Kiarie Saitoti, and later Uhuru Kenyatta as President for 10 years without question or division,” they added.
Prof Kindiki also welcomed the elders’ request for faster completion of development projects in the region and commencement of others already in the pipeline.
Their plea included the construction of a dual-carriageway from Makutano through Embu, Chuka, Meru and Maua and the redesigning of Nithi Bridge.
The DP promised not to let the region down in pushing for development projects and assisting the President to lead the country.
“For us from Mt Kenya East, we must support President Ruto’s re-election next year because voting for him means we are voting for ourselves,” the DP stated.
