Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has changed tack in his response to the growing political contest in Mt Kenya, choosing a message of unity as leaders allied to the government push the idea of separate political interests for the East and West of the region.
Kindiki on Saturday told elders at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu that he would not engage in political fights with his critics, even as former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua stepped up his attacks over what he describes as attempts to split Mt Kenya.
“Mimi hata ikuwe nini, mimi siwezi kupigana na ndugu zangu,” Kindiki said.
He asked elders to reach out to their counterparts across the region and keep Mt Kenya united.
“My friend, let's preach unity and reach out to all elders and preach unity; we need to be one as Gema,” he said.
The message came at a meeting that has itself become part of the political contest. Elders from the Gikuyu, Embu, Mbeere and Ameru communities endorsed Kindiki as their spokesperson and representative on matters affecting Mt Kenya.
The endorsement gives Kindiki a platform in Mt Kenya West at a time when his political standing in the region is being closely watched.
For months, a section of leaders allied to the United Democratic Alliance has been pushing the argument that Mt Kenya East and West should pursue their political interests separately.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has been particularly vocal on the issue, arguing that Mt Kenya East should negotiate for its own interests rather than continue operating as part of a wider political bloc dominated by the West.
The proposal has divided opinion among leaders from the region.
Some have embraced the idea as a way of ensuring Mt Kenya East gets a stronger say in national politics and government development. Others say dividing the region would weaken its bargaining power.
Kindiki has previously rejected claims that he is involved in a plan to split the mountain.
“No mountain will be divided; maybe in your evil dreams,” he said in an earlier response to Gachagua. “You and I found the GEMA united; it will forever remain so.”
On Saturday, however, he avoided another direct confrontation with his former boss and instead spoke about the need for leaders to respect one another.
Kindiki said he had received insults from people he had respected but would not respond with similar attacks.
The former deputy president has made the alleged division of Mt Kenya a recurring theme in his criticism of President William Ruto's administration. On Saturday, Gachagua said the latest developments showed that attempts to split the region had failed.
“I have woken up to the happenings back home that the two mischievous characters assigned by Mr William Ruto to divide the mountain have given up after the residents of the region rejected their attempts in total,” Gachagua said.
He was referring to Kindiki and Ruku.
Gachagua also warned that those behind the alleged division could turn their attention to other parts of the former Central Province.
“Having failed to divide Mt Kenya into the imaginary West and East, the mountaineers are aware of new efforts to divide the former Central Province. This too will fail,” he said.
At Kirigiti, Kindiki and the elders presented a different picture, with the focus on bringing the region together.
The elders formally endorsed Kindiki as their spokesperson and representative, saying he should advance the interests and aspirations of Mt Kenya.
“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,” they said.
The meeting comes as politicians begin laying the groundwork for the 2027 General Election, with the question of who speaks for Mt Kenya and how the region will negotiate its political interests becoming more prominent.
