Kikuyu Elders Implore Uhuru and Gachagua to Reconcile for Unity

The Kikuyu Council of Elders has issued a heartfelt plea, beseeching former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to forgive one another and re-establish political unity.

Wachira Kiago, the council’s national chairman, underscored the significance of Uhuru and Gachagua joining forces for the greater good of the Mount Kenya region.

Kiago emphasized that Gachagua should not be criticized for his recent overtures, which indicate his willingness to engage in a reconciliation with Uhuru Kenyatta, all in the name of unity.

“Gachagua is right, and he should not be chastised for his recent move to reach out to Uhuru; nothing is permanent in politics, and the two should unite the community,” Wachira said.

In an exclusive radio interview on Friday, October 6, 2023, Deputy President Gachagua unveiled his newfound willingness to engage in dialogue, marking a softening of his once-hardline stance against Kenyatta.

Gachagua’s call is met with positive responses from politicians who had previously opposed him in the run-up to the August presidential poll.

“We will unite our region, Mount Kenya, so that we speak with one voice,” stated the deputy president.

Political analyst Albert Kasembeli suggested that Gachagua seems increasingly apprehensive in his quest to consolidate the Mount Kenya region as a reliable vote base for the 2027 general election. This may explain his current outreach to seek Uhuru’s support.

“Gachagua appears to be a worried man, as evident from his recent confrontations with President Ruto over issues of shareholding and voter percentages. I can confidently say that things are not going well,” Kasembeli remarked.

Kasembeli also posited that there might be an unspoken rivalry between Gachagua and Ruto for control over Mount Kenya leaders. While Ruto is actively working to retain the support of Mount Kenya MPs for the 2027 elections, Gachagua is equally engaged in efforts to dislodge Ruto’s influence and establish himself as the region’s political kingpin.

Isaiah Gichu, the national chairman of the Party of Democratic Unity, conveyed the significance of the unity between Gachagua and former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Gichu emphasized that no malice should be inferred from this truce, highlighting the divisions within the Mount Kenya region that require a united voice.

“The Mount Kenya region is divided, and both Uhuru and Gachagua hold the keys to our unity. They should be supported through all means,” remarked Gichu.

Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga, during a men’s conference at Kenol, Murang’a County on Saturday, pleaded with Mount Kenya leaders to unite irrespective of their political affiliation.

Njenga emphasized that the Mount Kenya region should speak in one voice to enhance growth and prosperity.

“We are appealing to every leader from the Mount Kenya region to promote peace irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.

Former Ichagaki MCA Charles Mwangi noted that Gachagua has displayed signs of safeguarding the political interests of Mount Kenya and should, therefore, be supported.

“Gachagua is currently the most senior leader from Mount Kenya in government. That puts him ahead of the pack,” Mwangi says.

He noted that with former President Uhuru Kenyatta now retired and focused on his new job as a regional mediator in the DRC and Ethiopia, Gachagua is now seen by many as a potential Mount Kenya regional political leader in the making.