Kindiki set to become Meru spokesman as he is installed Njuri Ncheke elder

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki (right) has a word with President Uhuru Kenyatta during a Jubilee retreat in Naivasha. He is poised to be the Meru spokesman after he is installed as a Njuri Ncheke elder on Saturday. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• Political pundits describe the ceremony as a plan to hoist him onto a more prominent role, as the spokesman of the region’s communities.
• The installation ceremony will be done at Chiakariga in Tharaka-Nithi County.
• Prof Kindiki’s growing political clout is said to have made some Meru leaders uncomfortable and has elicited disquiet.
• Several MCA’s from Meru County who are solidly behind Governor Peter Munya say that Prof Kindiki is not the person to carry the community’s flag in 2022.

By KENNEDY KIMANTHI
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Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki will Saturday be installed as a Njuri Ncheke elder in a ceremony expected to be punctuated with political undertones.

Political pundits describe the ceremony as a plan to hoist him onto a more prominent role, as the spokesman of the region’s communities.

Although proceedings of the ceremony are closely guarded, Njuri Ncheke council of elders’ secretary-general Phares Ruteere told the Nation that Prof Kindiki will be elevated to be the “Meru spokesman”.

“Prof Kindiki will be elevated to a Meru elder during the ceremony. Any other details surrounding the ceremony will be made public during the admission and actual initiation ceremony,” Mr Ruteere told the Nation by phone.

The installation ceremony will be done at Chiakariga in Tharaka-Nithi County.

Talks of the Tharaka-Nithi senator poising himself as the king maker of Meru politics by virtue of his popularity and being the top most politician from the region in the Jubilee administration have not gone down well with some Meru leaders.

Prof Kindiki’s growing political clout is said to have made some Meru leaders uncomfortable and has elicited disquiet that he is being groomed as a possible running mate to Deputy President William Ruto in 2022 if President Uhuru Kenyatta wins re-election and serves the constitutionally allowed two terms.

Pundits see this as a game-plan to fight for the Ameru voting bloc.

While some political leaders from the region having openly declared their support for the youthful leader who is a close ally of both President Kenyatta and his deputy Mr Ruto, others have dismissed him as an opportunist.

OTHERS SUPPORT MUNYA

Several MCA’s from Meru County who are solidly behind Governor Peter Munya say that Prof Kindiki is not the person to carry the community’s flag in 2022.

Nominated Member Alhaji Mwendia and county deputy speaker Gideon Kimathi believe Mr Munya can as well go for a higher office in 2022.

“We have our own who can compete for the higher post. What has Kindiki done for the Meru people that Mr Munya has not done?” posed Mr Kimahti during a recent function at Njogune Catholic Church in South Imenti Sub-County.

However, Prof Kindiki has managed to cut a niche for himself and has received support from MPs Kareke Mbiuki (Maara), David Karithi (Tigania West) and Rahim Dawood (North Imenti).

Mr Mwendia criticised the council for using its position to gain their own mileage and turn themselves to be the ultimate power brokers in Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties.

Mr Ruteere, however, dismissed the Munya-led group accusing it of disrespecting the council and asked them to keep off Njuri Ncheke affairs.

“Some of these leaders are political brokers who cannot exist unless they issue threats. Although the Njuri is not a political outfit, we will not sit and watch as a few individuals who are known sit and malign the name of a democratically elected government,” Mr Ruteere said.