Deputy President (DP) Kithure Kindiki has reiterated his call for the unity of the Mt Kenya region, saying tolerance among residents and leaders was key in maintaining peace and harmony.
Speaking during a fundraiser at Gaichanjiru Catholic Church in Kandara, Murang’a County, Prof Kindiki said he will continue preaching unity and promoting peaceful coexistence.
His remarks come in the wake of aggressive campaigns by a section of politicians to split the region into two – Mr Kenya East and Mt Kenya West – with Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku being the most vocal of the move.
The East comprises Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties while Kiambu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Nyeri, Nyandarua and parts of Laikipia are in the west.
With Prof Kindiki hailing from Tharaka Nithi, Mr Ruku claims that the East supports Dr Ruto while most of the opposition is from the West.
After the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as DP in 2024, he has been leading an opposition onslaught with his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), denying the President the massive support he enjoyed from the region in the 2022 elections.
Prof Kindiki, however, said he will continue preaching unity in the region and urged residents to support the government in the 2027 elections.
“I pray with humility that this community, the Mt Kenya region and the country continue to stay united. These matters of national development started a long time ago when we were one, worked together and shared a common cultural heritage,” the DP said.
“We will defend the unity of our nation with all our strength, with all our might, with all our resources and with all our intellect. We cannot allow the unity of our country to be undermined. We will pay whatever price we need to pay to make sure that the community and the nation remain united,” he added.
He told leaders and the region residents to be cautious about their utterances, so as not to disrupt peace, noting that despite the competition in politics, it was only for a season.
“Do not insult or fight your brother or your parents, or destroy the property of your neighbours because matters of politics will pass. Those who will win will be our leaders; those who will not win are still leaders and will wait for another opportunity, and God will see them through,” he said.
The DP reiterated that all leaders, regardless of the positions they aspire for in next year’s general election, they will be judged according to their performance and not mere rhetoric.
“If it is competition, let us compete on the work the leaders have done. I bring my record, and the others bring their record of what they did. The winner becomes our leader, and the one who does not win waits for the next opportunity,” he said.
“Projects that had stalled due to lack of funds, especially the Mau Mau roads, are now in progress after the government paid contractors’ debts of over Sh177 billion. All contractors have been paid and are back to the construction of roads, over 6,000 kilometres across the country,” he said. He also said in Murang’a County, there were 27 markets under construction besides other projects.
“We have more than 600 modern markets across Kenya, 180,000 hostels across the country for university students and technical training institute students,” he said.
Prof Kindiki helped raise funds for reconstruction of the Gaichanjiru Mission Hospital, where he said President Ruto had pledged to support the project to the tune of Sh50 million.
He was accompanied by Lands CS Alice Wahome, her Tourism counterpart Rebecca Miano, nominated MP Sabina Chege, nominated Senator Veronica Maina, Energy PS Alex Wachira and Anthony Mwaura, the UDA elections board chairman, among other leaders.
Ms Chege and Mr Wachira reiterated that the Mount Kenya region was firmly behind President Ruto and would not leave the government they propelled to power.
