Deputy President Kithure Kindiki greats an elder during the assembly of Mt. Kenya elders at Kirigiti Stadium, Kiambu County.DPCS
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has appealed to the GEMA community to embrace peace and unity as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
Kindiki said political differences should not be allowed to tear apart the Kikuyu, Embu and Meru communities.
Kindiki said the three communities have a shared history and should continue working together to safeguard peace, promote development and address issues affecting residents of the Mount Kenya region.
Speaking at Kirigiti Stadium during a meeting with GEMA elders, the Deputy President said he would embark on sustained engagement across the region to preach peace and encourage unity ahead of the next General Election.
Kindiki said elders have an important responsibility in maintaining peace and guiding the younger generation, particularly at a time when political competition is expected to intensify.
He urged the elders to engage young people and encourage them to reject political hostility, saying disagreements among leaders should not translate into divisions among ordinary members of the community.
The Deputy President also warned leaders against what he described as efforts to promote disunity in the Mount Kenya region, saying such divisions could undermine the community's ability to work together.
“I have forgiven those who have been abusing me and I am ready to unite the GEMA elders,” Kindiki said.
He said he was prepared to reach out to leaders and elders across the region as part of efforts to rebuild cohesion and ensure that political differences do not permanently damage relationships within the community.
Kindiki further said he would traverse the Mount Kenya region preaching peace and encouraging residents to maintain unity as the country moves closer to the 2027 elections.
He said the government would also support elders in their efforts to engage young people, particularly through initiatives aimed at promoting peace, dialogue and cohesion.
The Deputy President said elders remain an important link between generations and can help prevent political disagreements from spilling over into communities.
Kindiki also appealed to the GEMA community to support the government, linking unity to the region's ability to benefit from development programmes and engage the national government on issues affecting its people.
He said the community should remain focused on development and avoid being divided by political interests.
The Deputy President's remarks come amid renewed conversations about political unity in the Mount Kenya region, where leaders have increasingly been engaging communities and elders ahead of the 2027 political contest.
The meeting at Kirigiti brought together elders from the Kikuyu, Embu and Meru communities, with leaders stressing the importance of peace and cohesion in the region.
National Patron of Kiama Kia Ma, Kinyua Mwangi, also called for unity among the communities, saying the cohesion of Mount Kenya was crucial.
Mwangi warned that attempts to divide the region could be risky, urging elders and community leaders to work together and protect the unity that has historically brought the communities together.
The event was attended by Cabinet Secretaries William Kabogo and Geoffrey Ruku, among other leaders and GEMA elders.
The leaders used the gathering to emphasise the role of elders in promoting peace, engaging young people and encouraging communities to remain united despite political differences as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election.
