Elders from Mt. Kenya East have strongly reaffirmed their support for Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki, condemning what they described as “tribal wars” being fueled by impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

In a resolute statement issued in Runyenjes and dubbed “The Runyenjes Declaration,” the elders, speaking drawn from the Njuri Ncheke (Meru and Tharaka Nithi), Nyangi Ndiriri (Embu), and Ngome (Mbeere) councils, reiterated the position they took in the Izaak Walton Declaration of September 15, 2024. At that time, they withdrew their support for Gachagua and endorsed the then-Interior Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Kindiki, now serving as Deputy President.

“We repeat what we said clearly last year: Rigathi Gachagua divided our people, confused our region, and failed to deliver development. He was never ready to support the Mt. Kenya East agenda,” the declaration stated.

The elders accused the former Deputy President of deliberately fueling tribal divisions between Mt. Kenya East and Mt. Kenya West, and questioned whether his continued political attacks on Prof. Kindiki were driven by regional bias.

“Our question is simple: Is Rigathi attacking Prof. Kindiki just because he is from Mt. Kenya East, and not Mt. Kenya West like his predecessors? These attacks are not just political—they are an insult to our people,” the elders declared.

They praised Parliament for the lawful impeachment of Gachagua and for appointing Prof. Kindiki as Deputy President, a move that was unanimously endorsed by lawmakers. The elders lauded Kindiki’s performance in his first eight months in office, noting his focus on discipline, development, and national unity.

The statement also took aim at Gachagua’s broader political record, citing his tenure as a District Officer as early evidence of a leadership style defined by failure and division.
“From his early days, he showed a pattern of failure and division. He has not changed,” the elders asserted.

In a unified voice, they vowed to protect and defend Prof. Kindiki, urging him to remain focused on his mandate and to continue working closely with the President to deliver development across the country.

“Anyone attacking Prof. Kindiki is attacking all of us. We stand with our Deputy President and will not allow political chaos to return to our region,” they emphasized.
The elders further called on Prof. Kindiki to continue bridging the gap between Mt. Kenya East and West, and to help lead the region with wisdom and integrity while supporting President Ruto in uniting the nation.

The declaration was read by Elder Ben Kanyenji, Elder Benard Munyi and Mohammed Ruguongo, who both emphasized that the Mt. Kenya East community stands firmly behind Deputy President Kindiki and will not be swayed by divisive politics.

The declaration marks a pivotal moment in Mt. Kenya regional politics, signaling a realignment of political loyalties and alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.