The Kikuyu Council of elders has announced their commitment to support ODM leader Raila Odinga’s 2022 presidential bid.
The elders made a declaration on Saturday, September 18, after meeting their Luo counterparts where the two groups agreed to be the bridge between former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.
Siaya Senator James Orengo who attended the event said the elders further agreed to negotiate for their respective region’s interests.
Orengo said this will ensure unity and peace between the two communities as the country approaches the much-awaited 2022 General Election.
“The cultural leaders should be our bridge between Uhuru and Raila as opposed to the political class and the civil servants, they will be connecting us with the two leaders. We will climb the mountain and we invite the Kikuyus to fish in our region,” Orengo said as quoted by the Standard.
Their commitment to supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta’s handshake partner comes at a time when all presidential hopefuls have been making inroads in the huge voting block which may not be fielding a serious presidential candidate in the 2022 presidential election.
While welcoming the move, Oburu Odinga said the time has come for the GEMA community to return the favours Jaramogi Oginga did to the founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
He further said that it will be a good move given the fact that Raila endorsed Kibaki for the presidency with the declaration of Kibaki ‘tosha’ during the heated 2002 presidential elections.
Oburu further guaranteed the Kikuyu community that a Raila presidency will protect their businesses without conquest.
“My father said without Kenyatta there would be no freedom, my brother said Kibaki ‘tosha’, we would like the community to reciprocate while we promise we shall protect your businesses without suppression,” he said.
