Kiambu elders deny backing Evans Kidero’s re-election bid

Members of the Kikuyu Council of Elders Association from Kiambu County after a meeting at a hotel on Thika Road on March 23, 2017 where they dismissed allegations that the association is supporting the re-election of Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero. PHOTO | MARY WAMBUI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • They said the pledge made by the group led by Captain Waweru should not be treated as the association’s official stand.
  • The elders said they are solidly behind President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee administration.
  • The association listed the bona fide members of the council from Kiambu County.

Members of the Kikuyu Council of Elders Association from Kiambu County have dismissed claims of backing Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero’s re-election as claimed by some elders during a recent visit to City Hall.

Speaking at a hotel on Thika Road, association chairman David Mwangi Ngubia said the pledge made by the group led by Captain Waweru Mbugua should not be treated as the association’s official stand since the elders are “neither members nor officials or spokespersons of the association in Kiambu County.”

“We have gathered that they went to tell (Dr) Kidero to protect their investments and ask for protection of hawkers who come from Kiambu before pledging to support (Dr) Kidero’s re-election using our association’s name which was wrong because they are not registered members and what they pledged was and still remains contrary to our official stand,” said Mr Ngubia.

SUPPORT JUBILEE

“We in Kiambu are not ready to involve ourselves with the opposition in Nairobi or any other part of the country.

"We are solidly behind the Jubilee government led by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto,” they said.

“We therefore strongly distance ourselves with that group led by Captain Waweru and warn them to stop posing as members of Kikuyu Council of Elders forthwith,” they added.

BONA FIDE MEMBERS

The association listed the bona fide members of the council from Kiambu County as David Mwangi Ngubia (chairman), Samuel Ngigi Kanyingi (vice-chairman), Francis Karari Mungai (secretary), Emmanuel Njogu Muiruri (assistant secretary) and Bonface Muiruri Kiuna as the treasurer and warned the public against being duped into believing any communication by people not mentioned in that list.

“Our chairman, Mr Ngubia is the only person who can [communicate] our matters to the media. Any other communication issued by other persons should be ignored and dismissed with utmost contempt,” warned the association’s secretary, Mr Karari.

He said the association remains grounded on its vision of love and unity for the Kikuyu community and the nation at large.

Last week, the Captain Waweru led a team comprising of Kiambu elders operating businesses in Nairobi to an early morning meeting with Dr Kidero in his office where they pledged to marshal Kiambu residents who registered to vote in Nairobi to re-elect Dr Kidero for another term.