Kang’o KaJaramogi, Opoda farm in Bondo was Saturday the venue of a historic meeting of Kikuyu and Luo community leaders.
The meeting also interpreted as an endorsement of ODM leader Raila Odinga to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta for a top seat in the country.
The visit by a delegation of Kikuyu community of at least 700 people, including members of the Kikuyu Council of Elders and other notable figures from the Mt Kenya region to lake show town was the climax of crowning Raila Odinga as Gems 2022 presidential candidate.
Mr Odinga together with his wife Mama Ida hosted the delegation led by Nominated MP Maina Kamanda, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni and Nyeri Deputy Governor Caroline Karugu, who presented the Odingas with gifts from the elders.
Kikuyu Council of Elders chair Wachira Kiago said elders from the two communities entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see them work together, with the support of elected leaders from Mt Kenya who want to end political divisions that have strained the community’s relations for years.
Mzee Kiago said the gathering was the culmination of a series of meetings of the two communities, which he said are seeking to cement ties and strengthen the handshake.
“We are inviting Raila to Central and will introduce him officially to our people to cement this unity.” he said
According to the elders, the meeting was solely for building peace and unity between the two communities but in his remarks, however, Hon Maina Kamanda told Raila that he will be disappointed if his name will not be on the ballot come 2022, promising that the community will back him.
“We are here because we want to ensure this collaboration between the two communities works. We fought alongside you to get rid of Kanu. We will be with you,” Kamanda said.
Mr Kenneth said, “We want to walk together. That’s the reason for this delegation. We have started retracing the steps of the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi. This meeting of over 700 elders from Central is historic.”
According to the elders, the meeting was solely for building peace and unity between the two communities but in his remarks, however, Hon Maina Kamanda told Raila that he will be disappointed if his name will not be on the ballot come 2022, promising that the community will back him.
“We are here because we want to ensure this collaboration between the two communities works. We fought alongside you to get rid of Kanu. We will be with you,” Kamanda said.
