Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s recent installation as the Mt Kenya region’s kingpin and spokesperson is facing criticism from a section of political leaders and community elders who say they were not consulted.
The ceremony was held at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County on September 21, where Kindiki was presented as the region’s political leader.
But several leaders have questioned the process, saying it did not involve all elders from the community.
Speaking during a meeting with Kiama Kia Ma elders in Juja on Saturday, MPs George Kariuki of Ndia, George Koimburi of Juja and George Gachagua of Ndaragwa said the ceremony lacked broad community participation.
They argued that elders from across the GEMA community should have been consulted before a new regional leader was installed.
The MPs also maintained that former President Uhuru Kenyatta remains the region’s recognised kingpin. They said any move to identify a successor should involve the former president and receive wider community backing.
Kariuki described the coronation as a sham and questioned the manner in which it was organised.
He also referred to an incident during the ceremony in which a ceremonial crown fell from Kindiki’s head, presenting it as another indication that the process had not been properly conducted.
Koimburi also criticised Kindiki’s leadership in the Kenya Kwanza administration. He said Mt Kenya needed leadership that would push more strongly for the region’s interests.
The disagreement comes as political activity builds in Mt Kenya ahead of the 2027 general election, with leaders positioning themselves for influence within the region.
The MPs also raised concerns over illicit and second-generation alcohol, saying stronger enforcement of existing laws was needed to address the problem.
Kariuki said leaders would support efforts to curb the sale of outlawed and counterfeit liquor.
Some community elders separately said they had not been informed about the ceremony.
Kikuyu elders led by Maina wa Kibe and Mwangi Kagumo said they learnt about the event through the media. Kiambu elders also said they had not been involved and questioned whether the ceremony followed the community’s traditional procedures.
The criticism has brought renewed attention to the question of political leadership in Mt Kenya, where different groups continue to advance competing views over who should represent the region.
While Kindiki’s installation was presented as a recognition of his leadership, the objections from some politicians and elders show that there is no consensus over the ceremony or the question of who should speak for the region.
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