NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 7 – Njuri Ncheke elders have endorsed President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027 with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as his running mate, calling on the Mount Kenya region to remain united and resist efforts to divide its political support ahead of the next General Election.
Speaking in Meru, the elders said they would support the Kenya Kwanza administration in 2027 while seeking backing from other Mount Kenya communities for Kindiki. They also linked the 2027 contest to a longer-term political plan that would see Kindiki seek the presidency in 2032.
The position was reinforced by Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma, who said the Deputy President’s position should not be considered open for another candidate in 2032, effectively placing Kindiki at the centre of the region’s succession calculations.
Mutuma said the community had come together to demonstrate its support for Kindiki and urged the region to pursue political power collectively.
“We want to declare, while we are on the sacred ground of the elders of Njuri Ncheke here in Meru, that the whole world and the whole of Kenya should know that there is no vacancy in the seat of Deputy President of the country until the year 2032,” Mutuma said.
“The Deputy President whom we can talk about or hear people talking about is the Deputy President who will be Professor Kithure Kindiki in the year 2032,” he added.
Mutuma questioned whether the Mount Kenya region was prepared to seek greater political influence, saying the community should not shy away from pursuing power.
“Some communities say they want power. Do we as Ameru not love power? Mount Kenya, do we love power or do we hate it? Mount Kenya East, do we love power or do we hate it?” he said.
Senator Murungi Kathuri said Meru had decided to stand behind Kindiki and appealed to communities on the western side of Mount Kenya to support the position.
“We want to make history, Deputy President, Meru is here. This is the government of Meru. You are the Deputy President of the National Government, this is the government of the people of Meru,” Kathuri said.
He said the community was backing Kindiki with both the 2027 election and the 2032 succession in mind.
“And as today, Deputy President, the government of Meru has come here to tell you that from now until the end, we are with you, we are holding your hand,” he said.
“We are holding your hand because of the 2027 election, because we are looking ahead to 2032,” Kathuri added.
Kathuri also asked other Mount Kenya communities to reciprocate the support Meru had previously offered political leaders from the region.
“We are asking our brothers who are on the western side of the mountain, we are asking you to support us, hold on to Professor Kithure Kindiki. He is in office now and in 2027 we return him again together with the President so that they can continue with the work,” he said.
The Njuri Ncheke chairman, meanwhile, declared support for the Ruto administration and said the community wanted other Mount Kenya communities to support its political position.
“We are openly declaring today that we will support the government together with you because the government is ours now,” the chairman said.
