The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Captain (Rtd) Kung’u Muigai, a cousin of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, has expressed support for Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s gesture to extend an olive branch to Uhuru Kenyatta for the purpose of fostering unity talks in the Mt Kenya region.
In an exclusive interview with a local media on Tuesday, Kung’u stressed the importance of both Uhuru and Gachagua setting aside their political differences and working together for the progress and unity of the region.
He urged leaders from all political backgrounds in the region to support Gachagua’s reconciliation efforts, recognizing him as the most senior politician in the area at present.
“As elders in the Mt Kenya region, we welcome the initiative for these two leaders to reconcile, and we stand ready to facilitate any form of meeting, be it a handshake or a sit-down, for the betterment of the region,” Kung’u remarked.
He cautioned against politicians exacerbating the divide between Gachagua and Uhuru, emphasizing that it is the community that would suffer the most if the two continue to be at odds politically.
Kung’u also advised against prematurely engaging in discussions about the 2032 succession politics, urging leaders to concentrate on addressing current challenges facing the region.
Political analyst Albert Kasembeli echoed Kung’u’s sentiments, stating that if Uhuru and Gachagua reconcile before the 2027 general election, the region will command respect in various political circles nationwide.
Kasembeli warned against the repercussions of sustained discord between the two leaders, urging Uhuru to graciously accept any apologies from Gachagua if there were any wrongs during the 2022 campaigns.
He also criticized political intermediaries for widening the gap between the leaders to maintain their relevance in the upcoming elections.
“I fully endorse Gachagua’s initiative to reconcile with Uhuru because failure to do so will perpetuate division in the region, exposing the community to exploitation by self-serving leaders,” Kasembeli stated.
During the recent burial of former police boss Kingori Mwangi, Deputy President Gachagua expressed his willingness to reconcile with the retired President.
Gachagua reaffirmed his longstanding friendship with Uhuru before political differences emerged from the 2022 elections.
“I was eager to meet my friend and former boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta. I wanted to greet him as it has been a while since we last met, and assure him that all is well and we have a new government,” the DP said.
“Uhuru is our son, and we hold him dear. I instructed regional leaders to refrain from criticizing the retired President. We still hold him in high regard.”
He expressed readiness to collaborate with leaders from the region, regardless of their political affiliation, and stressed the importance of avoiding the mistakes of past vote divisions experienced in the 1990s.
Thuo Mathenge, the New Democrats’ national chairman and party leader, voiced concern that the Mt Kenya region might lose its political significance without unity.
He emphasized the region’s historical strength in unity during campaigns and called for a unified voice, irrespective of political differences.
“I advocate for unity in the region, and we must speak in unison regardless of political alliances,” Thuo remarked.
He added that the Mt Kenya region should not approach the 2027 general election divided as it was in the 2022 polls.
Last week, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga urged former President Uhuru Kenyatta to convene a meeting for regional leaders in the interest of peace.
“I have urged the former President to host a gathering for regional leaders, and I informed him that you (Gachagua) would have wished to attend but were engaged elsewhere as he rushed for another event,” Kahiga mentioned.
