Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that traditional "gods of Mt Kenya" rejected Deputy President Kithure Kindiki's installation as the region's spokesperson. Gachagua made these remarks during his ongoing tour of the United States. He interpreted an incident during the ceremony where Kindiki's traditional headgear fell to the ground as a sign of rejection.
Kindiki was endorsed as the region's spokesperson by a section of Mt Kenya elders at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu on Saturday. The elders said the move aimed to advance the region's interests and preserve unity. However, Gachagua questioned the legitimacy of the endorsement. He stated that the elders had acknowledged the failure of efforts to split Mt Kenya between East and West before proceeding with Kindiki's installation.
Gachagua expressed his concerns about the endorsement, stating that elders should bring people together rather than divide them. He said, "How can somebody turn up in a meeting for elders? Elders, their work is to bring people together and say we have failed to divide the mountain. We tried; it's not possible."
The former deputy president invoked traditional beliefs to explain the incident during the ceremony. He claimed that the gods of the mountain house were powerful and would not allow such a thing to happen. According to Gachagua, as the elders placed the ceremonial headgear on Kindiki, it fell off, which he interpreted as a rejection of the installation.
Reports from the ceremony stated that Kindiki's traditional hat slipped from his head as he sat down and was quickly picked up and returned to him. Despite this, the elders formally endorsed Kindiki as their spokesperson and representative. They reaffirmed their commitment to keeping Mt Kenya united and rejected efforts to divide the region.
Gachagua maintained that the incident carried a deeper meaning, emphasizing that the mountain cannot be divided. His remarks come amid an increasingly visible contest over political leadership and representation in Mt Kenya ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The incident has sparked debate over Kindiki's legitimacy as the region's spokesperson. Gachagua's comments add to the growing tensions within the Mt Kenya region.
Key points
- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claims traditional gods rejected Deputy President Kithure Kindiki's installation as Mt Kenya spokesperson.
- Gachagua interpreted an incident during the ceremony where Kindiki's traditional headgear fell to the ground as a sign of rejection.
- The incident has sparked debate over Kindiki's legitimacy as the region's spokesperson ahead of the 2027 General Election.
