Deputy president Kithure Kindiki addressing Gatundu residents on October 6, 2026/ ALICE WAITHERA
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced plans to convene political leaders from across the Mt Kenya region in a bid to curb growing political violence and goonism ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kindiki announced that the meeting would bring together leaders from different political parties and formations to explore ways of restoring political tolerance and ensuring disagreements in the region do not degenerate into violence.
Speaking during a tour of Kiambu County, the Deputy President said he was taking the initiative as part of a mandate given to him by councils of elders from communities in the region to promote unity, reconciliation and development.
“I will convene a meeting of all political leaders of Mt Kenya from all political divides so that we can discuss how to end this political goonism that is rearing its ugly head in our region,” Kindiki said.
He said the region had experienced competition among leaders since the return of multiparty politics but maintained that political rivalry had not previously reached the level of violence witnessed in recent months.
The Deputy President said he would also lead by example by avoiding exchanges with leaders from the region who have continued to attack him politically, saying he had chosen to forgive them and focus on bringing the region together.
The remarks come against a backdrop of several incidents in which rival groups have clashed during political meetings and protests, raising concerns over the use of violence to settle political differences in the region.
In January, a church service attended by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at Witima ACK Church in Othaya, Nyeri County, was disrupted after unknown people armed with guns stormed the church and lobbed tear gas into the premises, leading to chaos.
The masked men used guns to deflate vehicles used by the politicians and were caught in videos widely circulated on social media.
In June last year, groups described by witnesses as political goons were also reported to have disrupted protests in Murang’a town and Mwea held to commemorate the deadly 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations, with participants assaulted and property damaged.
Similar violence was witnessed during demonstrations over rising fuel prices in May this year, with businesses in Murang’a town vandalised and traders counting losses running into millions of shillings.
The incidents have heightened fears that political competition in the region is increasingly being accompanied by organised violence rather than peaceful debate.
More recently, violence erupted at Nembure Stadium in Embu County on September 12 during a political meeting addressed by Kindiki, after youths who had been locked out of the venue clashed with police.
Two people died in the confrontation, while several vehicles were torched. Postmortems later established that the two victims died from gunshot wounds.
Kindiki said the region could not afford to return to a political culture in which disagreements were settled through intimidation and violence.
“We have had competing leaders in Mt Kenya at the national level since the advent of multiparty democracy, but never again should we allow political goonism to take root in this region,” he said.
He said his decision to reach out to leaders across the political divide was aimed at creating a platform where differences could be discussed without hostility, while urging politicians to put the interests of residents ahead of personal and political rivalries.
The Deputy President spoke as he inspected government development projects in Kiambu County, including roads and other infrastructure projects being implemented in the Kiambaa and Gatundu South constituencies.
Kindiki said the national government was implementing 1,656 kilometres of road projects in Kiambu at a cost of about Sh152 billion, with the works expected to improve transport and stimulate local economies.
“I am following up on all the roads under construction in the 12 constituencies in Kiambu. The roads are meant to improve the local economies, especially in the rural areas. We want our farmers to transport their produce to the markets on time to avoid spoilage and losses,” he said.
He said the government was also at an advanced stage of designing the proposed Thika-Nairobi Expressway, which is expected to provide an alternative route for motorists and ease pressure on the existing Thika Superhighway.
The Deputy President inspected the Wangui-Mundoro-Gaitete Road in Gatundu South and checked construction works at Karuri KMTC in Kiambaa, where Sh200 million has been allocated for the project and an additional Sh290 million set aside for student hostels.
Several roads in Kiambaa were either under construction or nearing completion, including Banana-Ndenderu, Banana-Ruaka, Nduota-Gathanga-Kigwaru, Banana-Raini-Karuri High School Junction and Karura-Gachie-Gacharage roads.
The government is also constructing 29 modern markets in Kiambu, with two additional markets scheduled to commence, while affordable housing projects and student hostels are being developed in various constituencies.
“We are building this country step by step, project by project, kilometre by kilometre for the advancement of our nation,” Kindiki said.
