Council of Elders: Kindiki is Meru spokesman

Accompanied by other elders, Njuri Ncheke Secretary General Phares Ruteere addresses a gathering at Gatunga Secondary school in Tharaka constituency on February 5. [PHOTO: ISAAC KATHARE /STANDARD]

The Meru Council of Elders has insisted that the Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki is the only recognised Meru spokesman.

Speaking at Gatunga Boys Secondary school during a fundraiser for the newly established Chuka University Tharaka campus, Secretary General Phares Ruteere said the Tharaka Nithi senator had united the Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties.

"Currently, Prof Kindiki is in a better position, being third from the President, therefore the elders have decided to back him as the only star that would show the Meru community its way to State House in 2022," he said.

The elders said Kindiki is among the few learned Meru leaders and is very humble despite being in President Uhuru Kenyatta's kitchen Cabinet.

Mr Ruteere added that greedy leaders from Meru who opposed installation of Kindiki as Meru spokesman created divisions within the council. He added that the council, which represents both counties, will rally behind Kindiki.

"Let us not allow greedy leaders to separate the Meru community with their political interests but rather support our youngest son to ascend to power.

We are one people. Anyone who splits the people or the Council of Elders is our enemy and enemy to development," he said.

In February last year, Meru Governor Peter Munya opposed the endorsement of Kindiki as Meru spokesman and said Meru can speak for itself as it had elected leaders.

Kindiki maintained that the Meru community should unite and pick one person who would lead them in politics to ensure their community could one day lead the nation.

"If you go to Ukambani they have Kalonzo Musyoka as their flag bearer, in Nyanza they have Raila Odinga while Central have Uhuru Kenyatta.

We should also do the same if we want to go far. It doesn't matter who is picked, if it would be me I will appreciate and lead the community but if someone else is picked, then I will become his or her campaign manager," he said.

The elders also urged the Gvernment to extend the voter-registration period to ensure more people registered.

The council noted that during the registration period, many residents have been bus