Kikuyu to instal speaker amid row in the Rift

Some of the Kikuyu community elders at a meeting in Eldoret last week
Some of the Kikuyu community elders at a meeting in Eldoret last week

A Kikuyu spokesman in Eldoret will be

crowned in a ceremony today, despite

wrangling among community leaders.

Deputy county commissioner John

Kinjo said the elders had applied for

a permit to host the event and no one

had opposed it.

“I have seen their application to hold

the ceremony and we have no reason

to stop it,” Kinjo told the Star on the

phone yesterday.

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago

and a section of the elders from

the community had demanded the

ceremony be postponed until after the

general election. They said it would destabilise regional

politics.

Joseph Mwaura, the coordinator of

the elders, said they will proceed with

the ceremony because it posed no security

threat in the region, and they

already acquired a licence.

“We will go on with our plans. The

ceremony will go on as planned,”

Mwaura said. Huruma MCA Peter Chomba, who

supports the event, said it should proceed

without interference.

Mandago last week said the meeting

should be stopped after it sparked a

row among Kikuyu community political

leaders wrangling over the election.

Mandago had said the leaders

should agree before the ceremony gets

a go-ahead.

“We are not opposed to the event but

we feel the elders and the community

should agree and move together,”

Mandago said.

Deputy President William Ruto is

invited to the ceremony at the 64 Stadium.

A group led by businessman Joseph

Wainaina also wants the installation

cancelled.

They oppose the other faction

led by Chomba and Francis Muya

(Langas) which has supported the

coronation.

Gema national organising

secretary Paul Kinyanjui said they are

also opposed to the installation.

“We do not see the need for such a

ceremony, especially at this time when

the country is headed for elections.We

can’t do it without agreeing and working

with other communities for peace

and cohesion,” Kinyanjui said.

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