UDA MPs Reject Kindiki’s Mt Kenya Endorsement, Back Uhuru

A section of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MPs and Kikuyu elders has rejected the recent endorsement of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as spokesperson and representative of the Mt Kenya region, arguing that the process did not receive broad enough consultation.

Ndia MP George Kariuki, Juja MP George Koimburi and Ndaragwa MP George Gachagua voiced their opposition during a meeting with Kiama Kia Ma elders in Juja Constituency on Saturday.

The lawmakers said they continue to recognise former President Uhuru Kenyatta as the region’s political leader.

Their remarks come days after a gathering of Mt Kenya elders at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County endorsed Kindiki as the region’s spokesperson and representative in advancing its interests and aspirations.

MPs Question the Kirigiti Process

The three MPs argued that the September 19 ceremony did not adequately involve all elders and elected leaders from the region.

Kariuki said the process should have involved wider consultation and criticised the manner in which Kindiki was presented as the region’s representative.

The lawmakers further argued that such a decision should be viewed as a communal and cultural process rather than simply a political exercise.

Some Kikuyu elders have similarly disputed the process. People Daily reported that sections of the elders questioned the involvement of different community groups and elected leaders in the Kirigiti gathering.

Different Elders Take Different Positions

The dispute follows an endorsement at Kirigiti in which representatives of several traditional organisations backed Kindiki as Mt Kenya spokesperson.

Reports identified representatives of Kiama Kia Ma, the Kikuyu Council of Elders, Njuri Ncheke, Kiama Kia Muembu, Ngome and Nyangi Ndiriri among those involved in the declaration.

According to reports from the event, the gathering brought together elders from the Agikuyu, Ameru, Aembu and Ambeere communities, with the organisers presenting the endorsement as an effort to promote unity across the region.

However, other elders subsequently distanced themselves from the process.

Kiama Kia Ma figures and sections of the Kikuyu Council of Elders have questioned whether the gathering represented the wider community and whether the appropriate traditional procedures were followed.

Kindiki Defends the Elders’ Decision

Kindiki has defended the endorsement and challenged those questioning it to engage directly with the elders who made the decision.

Speaking after the ceremony, he said the endorsement was made by elders with authority over cultural matters and argued that political leaders should not override their decision.

The Deputy President has also presented his role as one focused on promoting unity, reconciliation and development across the wider Mt Kenya region.

The September 19 gathering itself called for unity among communities in the region and rejected efforts to divide Mt Kenya into separate political blocs.

Uhuru Kenyatta Remains Central to the Dispute

The latest disagreement has also revived discussion over Uhuru Kenyatta’s continuing influence within Mt Kenya politics.

Kariuki and his colleagues said they recognise Uhuru as the region’s leader and suggested that any future process to select a new community figure would require broader consultation and the involvement of elders.

The dispute does not, however, represent a single unified position among all Mt Kenya elders. Different councils and groups have publicly taken different positions regarding Kindiki’s endorsement.

Politics Ahead of 2027

The disagreement comes as political activity intensifies ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election.

Kindiki has in recent weeks increased his engagements with elders, religious leaders, business representatives and grassroots networks across Mt Kenya. The Star reported that his outreach is part of efforts to strengthen political links between the region and the national government.

The competing positions over his endorsement illustrate the broader debate about political representation and leadership within Mt Kenya.

For now, the region remains divided over whether the Kirigiti declaration represents a broadly accepted transition in leadership or a decision that has yet to receive wider community consensus.