Central Kenya leaders caution DPs allies

A section of Central Kenya leaders have warned politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto against disrespecting President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Led by Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni and Kikuyu Council of Elders Chairperson Wachira Kiago, the leaders slammed the politicians for politicking instead of focusing on development.

"It is important to give respect to our elected leaders. If you want to destroy Kenya, show them no respect and it will spread to the whole country," said Mr Kioni.

The legislator further linked the Cabinet changes effected by the president to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

"What the president did on Tuesday is part of implementing the BBI on the seven points of shared prosperity," said Kioni.

They called on leaders opposed to the BBI to let the people read the document instead of creating unnecessary fears.

Speaking at a Nairobi hotel, the leaders welcomed the president’s decision to look into the issue of farmers in the Mt Kenya region, saying it had given residents renewed hope.

Economic times

"The people of the region have been experiencing hard economic times. The president’s decision to get rid of brokers and cartels will make sure that our people who had given up on farming go back to their farms," Kioni said.

They also praised Mr Kenyatta's decision to sack Mwangi Kiunjuri, and cautioned his successor, Agriculture CS Peter Munya, to be keen on the issues affecting farmers

The region's musicians, led by Ben Githae, welcomed the decision to establish a centralised system for the collection of royalties.