Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Friday received a major political boost after the Njuri Ncheke elders endorsed his stay in office and backed President William Ruto's 2027 re-election bid.
The influential council urged the Ameru community to rally behind Ruto’s reelection, saying it was time the Kikuyu community backed a leader from Mt Kenya East.
In a declaration read by former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, the elders council explicitly recognised Kindiki as the Ameru community’s distinguished son.
The council also thanked President Ruto for appointing Kindiki as DP and invited the President to the Nchiru shrine for a formal engagement with the elders.
“This is the greatest honour any president has ever accorded to the Ameru people.”
The declaration, adopted at an extraordinary meeting of the elders at the Njuri Ncheke headquarters in Nchiru, Meru County, also sought to shut down speculation over the deputy presidency.
The elders insisted that the position is occupied and should not be subjected to political contest until the end of Ruto's second term.
“Njuri Ncheke shall not keep quiet and let anyone take from us that which is rightfully ours. We shall fight tooth and nail to retain this office,” the elders said before crowning Kindiki as an elder.
The endorsement comes at a time when succession politics within the Mt Kenya region have intensified.
Leaders allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua are arguing that the region should negotiate afresh for the country's second highest office.
It is also coming in the wake of sustained pressure on Ruto by broad-based luminaries to open the deputy presidency seat for bargain ahead of 2027.
Speaking during the gathering, Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma M'Ethingia declared that the Ameru community would not entertain any discussion about replacing Kindiki.
"We want the whole world to know that the office of the Deputy President is occupied; it is not vacant. Today, for the avoidance of doubt, we declare that Kenya's Deputy President is Kithure Kindiki,” he said.
“The only time anyone can discuss that office is in 2032 after President William Ruto has completed his term. Those saying they want power should know that power already has an owner, and that owner is Kithure Kindiki. That is our position as the Ameru community."
His remarks underscored the community's resolve to defend Kindiki's position amid growing political realignments in the vote-rich Mt Kenya bloc.
The elders resolved to mobilise support for both Ruto and Kindiki ahead of next year's General Election.
"Njuri Ncheke strongly urges the Ameru people to stand firmly with our son Kithure Kindiki, and to overwhelmingly support His Excellency William Samoei Ruto," the declaration states.
Outgoing Njuri Ncheke chairman Linus Kathera appealed to leaders from the larger Mt Kenya region to reciprocate the support the Ameru community has historically extended to presidents from central Kenya.
"Sisi na watu wa Mt. Kenya West ni ndugu... tumewaunga mkono tangu siku za Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki na Uhuru Kenyatta. Hata nao wakati huu watuunge mkono na washikilie mtoto wetu Kithure Kindiki," Kathera said.
This loosely translates to “We and the people of Mt. Kenya West are brothers. We have supported them since the days of Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta. Now it is their turn to support us and stand behind our son, Kithure Kindiki.”
He argued that after supporting leaders from the neighbouring counties for decades, the time had come for the region to back an Ameru leader.
Kathera said the community hopes to eventually produce the country’s first president from Meru after Ruto's tenure.
Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi said the community stood firmly behind Ruto's re-election and Kindiki's continued service as deputy president until 2032.
"We support the re-election of President William Ruto next year and the continued tenure of Prof Kindiki as his deputy until 2032," Kiraitu said.
The declaration also committed the elders to working with councils of elders from across the Mt Kenya region to consolidate support for the Kenya Kwanza administration.
They rejected calls to split Mt Kenya.
“There is talk of splitting the mountain. As Njuri Ncheke we do not support the splitting of the mountain, we want one mountain, we have always been one people with our brothers from Mt. Kenya West and we wish to remain the same,” Kiraitu said.
Njuri Ncheke said it has historically maintained close ties with the Kiama Kia Ma council of elders, Embu elders and Mbeere elders in promoting peace and leadership within the region.
The council said the mountain had always remained one political and cultural entity and pledged to engage leaders across the region to strengthen support for Ruto and Kindiki before the 2027 polls.
Beyond politics, the elders commended Governor Mutuma for restoring peace in Meru after years of political turmoil.
They also praised other elected leaders for lobbying the national government to address insecurity, water shortages, road infrastructure, markets and issuance of title deeds.
The endorsement hands Kindiki valuable political capital as he seeks to consolidate support in his backyard.
It also strengthens his standing within the Mt Kenya region, where competition for influence ahead of the 2027 General Election continues to intensify.
“We assure you that our development projects will be accelerated than before,” Kindiki said, citing Meru Level 5 hospital which is set for a budget boost.
The DP assured the community that he will deliver on his mandate, and urged for unity in Mt Kenya. "I know there are people rivaling us politically, we cannot accept a situation where us leaders drive wedge between us."
He said he would reach out to all Mt Kenya leaders to agree on a common course for the communities, and forge a united front in pushing for development.
