Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki has used his visit to Nyeri County on September 25, 2026, to make a strong appeal for unity among communities and leaders in the wider Mt Kenya region. Speaking during his engagement with residents in Kieni Constituency, Kindiki said political differences should not be allowed to divide people who share historical, cultural and economic ties. His message comes at a time when political discussions around the region's leadership and direction have intensified ahead of the 2027 General Election. 

The Deputy President's remarks in Nyeri were part of a broader message he has been delivering across Mt Kenya in recent days. He has repeatedly called on leaders to respect the advice of elders and to avoid attempts to divide the region into political blocs, particularly along Mt Kenya East and Mt Kenya West lines. 

Kindiki's unity message in Nyeri

During his visit to Kieni, Kindiki told residents that there should not be an "East" and "West" division in Mt Kenya. He argued that political affiliations should not be stronger than the relationships and shared interests that connect communities in the region. 

The Deputy President's position is that political competition should not destroy relationships between communities. Leaders may belong to different political parties or hold different opinions, but, according to Kindiki, those differences should not result in hostility or permanent divisions among residents.

He also said that he had been asked by elders to help ensure that the region remains united. The elders' request has become an important part of Kindiki's recent public engagements in Mt Kenya.

The role of Mt Kenya elders

Kindiki's unity campaign follows a gathering of Mt Kenya elders at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County, where elders from the Agikuyu, Ameru, Aembu and Ambeere communities endorsed him as a spokesperson and representative of the region. The elders also reaffirmed their commitment to preserving unity among the communities. 

Following that gathering, Kindiki said he had taken the elders' message seriously and would work toward reconciliation and unity across Mt Kenya.

He has argued that elders have an important role in protecting community unity because they are not necessarily competing for elective positions. In his view, political leaders can sometimes be tempted to prioritise political competition, while elders can focus on longer-term peace and relationships between generations. 

This argument has become central to Kindiki's recent speeches as he moves between different parts of the region.

Rejecting the East-West division

One of the clearest messages from Kindiki in Nyeri was his rejection of attempts to portray Mt Kenya as two separate political blocs.

The East-West debate has become increasingly visible in recent weeks, with different leaders expressing competing views about the political direction of the region. Kindiki has instead argued that communities around Mt Kenya have more shared interests than differences.

His call for unity is therefore not simply about political parties. He has linked unity to the region's economic interests, development priorities, cultural relationships and shared history.

According to reports from his Nyeri visit, Kindiki said the region should concentrate on development rather than political insults and divisions. He said he would rather allow his actions on development to speak for him than engage in political exchanges based on insults.

Development as part of the unity message

Kindiki's call for unity in Nyeri was accompanied by an emphasis on development. During his visit, he inspected ongoing projects and addressed residents about roads, markets, electricity and other government programmes.

This is significant because the Deputy President has increasingly linked his message of regional unity with development.

He has argued that political unity can help communities concentrate on issues that directly affect their daily lives, including roads, jobs, agricultural incomes, electricity and markets. His latest Mt Kenya engagements have therefore combined political reconciliation with discussions about government projects.

In Nyeri, Kindiki highlighted a major road development programme covering hundreds of kilometres across the county. He also discussed electricity connections and the construction of markets. These projects formed part of his wider argument that development should remain a priority for residents.

Why the message is important ahead of 2027

Kindiki's remarks come less than a year before Kenya's 2027 General Election, making the question of Mt Kenya's political unity particularly significant.

Mt Kenya is an important political region, and different political leaders have been seeking support from communities across the area. As political activity increases, disagreements over leadership and political affiliations are likely to continue.

Kindiki has sought to present unity as an alternative to internal political confrontation. His message is that residents can support different political parties while maintaining peaceful relationships with one another.

He has also urged political leaders to avoid personal attacks and respect the role of elders. Reports from his earlier engagements show that he has described political differences as something that should not be allowed to destroy communities with shared history and aspirations. 

The wider Mt Kenya communities

Kindiki's message has generally referred to the communities around Mt Kenya, including the Kikuyu, Embu, Meru and Mbeere communities. Elders representing these communities were involved in the Kirigiti gathering where Kindiki was endorsed as a regional spokesperson. 

The emphasis on these communities reflects an attempt to frame Mt Kenya as a region with connections that go beyond electoral politics.

Kindiki has argued that shared history, cultural relationships and common economic interests provide a basis for cooperation even when political opinions differ.

This approach also explains why he has been travelling to different parts of Mt Kenya rather than limiting his engagements to his home area. His recent activities have included meetings with residents, elders and local leaders in both the eastern and western sides of the region. 

A call for peaceful political competition

Another important aspect of Kindiki's message is the distinction between political competition and community division.

The Deputy President has not argued that everyone must have identical political opinions. Instead, his message has been that political competition should not become a reason for communities to turn against each other.

That distinction is particularly important as Kenya approaches another election period. Political parties and candidates will naturally compete for votes, but Kindiki has called for that competition to remain peaceful.

His Nyeri message was therefore also a call for leaders to be responsible in the language they use when addressing their supporters.

Kindiki's focus on reconciliation

Kindiki has described his current role as involving reconciliation and efforts to bring together different sections of the Mt Kenya region.

After the elders' gathering in Kiambu, he said he had accepted their call to spearhead reconciliation and unity. He has subsequently continued to repeat the message during his engagements in different counties. 

The Nyeri visit adds another chapter to that effort.

By making the unity message in Kieni, Kindiki was speaking from a county that has considerable political and historical importance within Mt Kenya. His remarks therefore attracted attention beyond the specific development projects he was inspecting.

Development and unity going hand in hand

For Kindiki, unity is also connected to development.

His argument is that political disagreements should not prevent residents from benefiting from government programmes. Roads, markets, electricity and agricultural development affect residents regardless of which political party they support.

During his Nyeri visit, he therefore combined the unity message with updates on development projects. This approach allows him to present regional unity not only as a political issue but also as an economic and social issue.

His emphasis on farmers' incomes, infrastructure and electricity reflects the idea that residents' immediate needs should remain part of political discussions.