- Gachagua stated that he had only learned about the meeting through the media and had not been fully briefed by its organizers.
- Asserting his position as a senior politician in the Mount Kenya region, Gachagua emphasized the importance of being informed about matters concerning the region.
Image: PCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and Narc leader Martha Karua to consult with him regarding the alleged planned Limuru III Conference.
Speaking on Kameme FM's morning show, Gachagua stated that he had only learned about the meeting through the media and had not been fully briefed by its organizers.
Asserting his position as a senior politician in the Mount Kenya region, Gachagua emphasized the importance of being informed about matters concerning the region.
He expressed readiness to discuss any issues related to the Mount Kenya region with leaders regardless of their political affiliations.
"I have heard about the Limuru 3 meeting. Both Kioni and Karua haven’t reached out to me as the senior-most politician in the Mount Kenya region," Gachagua said.
"Being the regional leader, it falls upon me to convene such meetings. If they indeed have an agenda, my office doors are open, and they should feel free to reach out."
He said that if he is well convinced, he will support any meeting that is aimed to bring peace across the Mount Kenya region regardless of political affiliation.
He revealed that during his numerous meetings with elders and church leaders, he has been warned to take care of the community and help to forge everlasting peace and unity.
Karua and Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni early this month held talks at Fiesta Hotel in Ruaka to lay strategies for the Limuru III conference slated for April 19.
Kioni emphasized that the meeting aims to address the challenges facing residents of Mount Kenya, emphasizing the need for unity in finding solutions.
Kioni stated that there has been a crisis in the region for the last two years and all the leaders must come together to find solutions.
“Some of these go beyond the things we talked about, you heard him (Gachagua) also crying the other day,” he said.
Martha Karua reiterated that the Limuru meeting would provide a platform to discuss various socio-political issues affecting the community, emphasizing the constitutional right of people with common interests to convene.
“The Constitution allows people with common interests to come together. We are not different from other communities and we should join hands to deliberate on our future,” she said.
JKUAT don and political analyst Charles Mwangi has told the Star that Gachagua's willingness to engage with opposition leaders in Mount Kenya is commendable, noting that it is a positive step towards fostering unity.
He emphasized the importance of addressing the divisions exacerbated by the 2022 elections for the community's cohesion and future electoral prospects.
“Gachagua's move to engage the opposition in Mount Kenya is commendable and should be supported, being the senior politician in the region, he owes the right to talk and preach peace," he said.