Mediation
The National Kikuyu Cultural Association, Kiama kia Ma, have volunteered to mediate the conflict between Mount Kenya region legislators and the Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua.
The elders say they are willing to have a sit down with the elected leaders and the DP to iron out the political differences which have split the region into two factions. Led by the Kiama kia Ma’s National Deputy Chairman, Dr Michael Mugo, the elders say that they are worried that if left unresolved, the rift will stifle development.
“We are ready to meet with the Deputy President and those leaders to discuss and chart a path of unity so that they can deliver the promises to the Wananchi of Kenya and Mount Kenya in general. We are worried that if we continue with this discord, there shall be no development in the Mount Kenya region,” said Dr Michael Mugo.
Dr Mugo said that through the Kiama kia Ma county platforms, the cultural elders had already extended an olive branch to the elected leaders in bid to initiate the mediation process. He said that the meetings are meant to identify the underlying issues that have heightened political tension between the DP and his political counterparts. The meetings, Dr. Mugo said, will also give the leaders an opportunity to resolve their differences for the sake of the region’s unity.
“We should not pull apart, we should pull together. That is why as Kiama kia Ma we have volunteered to ask our elders in each of the counties to sit down and consult with the elected leaders starting with the senators, the women representative and Members of Parliament to discuss this disunity and find a solution. We are ready to mediate if there is any differences and the DP is also ready for the discussion,” stated Dr Mugo
On July 29, the simmering row pitting Rigathi Gachagua against some of elected leaders from Mount Kenya took a new twist after it emerged that an impeachment motion against the DP was in the offing. According to media reports, legislators had cited incitement and mobilization ethnic rivalries in the region, gross violation of the constitution and insubordination as grounds for his impeachment. But, the National Deputy Chairman said that the electorate who voted for them and the DP should be consulted to give their views on any plans to impeach him from his leadership position.
“We want to know what they will do to the hearts of the electorate who voted the DP in. Have they consulted and have they done a public participation so that they get to know what it is that the electorate want?” posed Dr Mugo.
At the same time, the cultural elders have appealed to leaders from the region to embrace dialogue as a conflict resolution mechanism. They have asked the elected leaders to desist from rushing to hound elected leaders from office adding that those in leadership should be allowed time to complete their terms in office.
“In Mount Kenya, we have become a region where we just impeach our leaders. We have not heard other people in other areas impeach their leaders. It appears we are moving backwards instead of moving forward,” stated the Cultural elder.
“Kiama kia Ma does not advocate for impeachment, we encourage consensus and consultation. We are sure that whoever we elected to lead, from the president, the DP, governors and MPs are fit to lead. They won by majority and we should allow them to lead for the remaining period of three years and there shall be an election in 2027 where we shall replace whoever we want,” he added.