The supreme council urged elders if the Ameru community has crowned Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as Mount Kenya Spokesman.
The elders who are respected in Meru and have been governing as a traditional government since the 19th century urged the Ameru community to rally behind Ruto’s reelection, saying it was time the Kikuyu community backed a leader from Mt Kenya East.
The coronation ceremony was done on Friday at Njuri Ncheke shrine headquater where Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was accompanied by ex-Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi with Njuri Ncheke elders in Meru.
Kindiki quest for a retention as Deputy President received a major political boost after the elders endorsement.
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.
On his part Kindiki said he accepted the responsibility of being endorsed by the traditional government.
“I want to thank the elders and assure the community that I will not let them I will work hard and skillfully with God helping me so that we are not told that we were given a big seat and we failed to deliver,” Kindiki said.
Kindiki said he will humbly and royalty continue helping President William Ruto as his deputy.
Kindiki remained optimistic that President William Ruto will clinch the seat in 2027.
I want to urged Meru community and especially leaders with different opinion to come and join us in government.
He was referring to former Meru governor Peter Munya,Former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi and Former Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza.
