CS Ruku challenges Kiama Kiama elders to denounce Gachagua’s remarks on Mt Kenya East
Cabinet Secretary Ruku has called on the Kiama Kiama, the traditional council of elders of the Kikuyu community, to publicly denounce remarks by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that the Cabinet Secretary described as expressing “hatred” toward the Mt Kenya East region, according to Citizen Digital.
The Cabinet Secretary challenged the elders to speak out against what he characterised as divisive rhetoric directed at communities in the eastern part of the Mt Kenya region, as reported by Citizen Digital. The appeal places renewed focus on the role of traditional institutions in mediating political tensions in central Kenya, where elders have increasingly been drawn into debates over regional cohesion and political representation.
The Kiama Kiama is one of several traditional councils of elders recognised among communities of the Mt Kenya region, alongside bodies such as the Mbariki-cii of the Embu and the Njuri Ncheke of the Ameru. Such councils have historically played a role in resolving disputes, advising on customary matters and, in recent years, weighing in on political developments affecting the region.
Rigathi Gachagua, who served as Kenya’s Deputy President from 2022 until his impeachment by the National Assembly in October 2024 and his subsequent removal from office, remains an influential figure in Mt Kenya politics. He retains a sizeable support base in parts of the region but has also faced criticism from those who view his political style as inflammatory. Mt Kenya East, covering counties such as Embu, Tharaka Nthi and Meru, has historically been distinct in political orientation from the more central counties of the Mt Kenya region, a distinction that continues to shape internal debates about representation and influence within the broader Mt Kenya bloc.
Sources
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