We were left out of meeting with Uhuru, say Kaya elders

A section of Kaya elders from the Miji Kenda community say they were alienated and left out of a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta in Mombasa.

Miji Kenda Kaya Elders Association Chairman Abdalla Ali Mnyenze claimed Thursday he was never informed about the visit by a section of Kaya elders when they met the President.

"I was not informed about the visit although those elders dressed in Kaya regalia and introduced themselves as Kaya elders. We have always advocated for unity and I am afraid this will cause division among us," he warned.

But Joseph Mwarandu, who was among the elders who paid a courtesy call on President Kenyatta at State House in Mombasa, said he had no apologies because every Kaya could visit the Head of State.

Visiting president

"Mzee Mnyenze and any other Kaya elder can visit the President and I do not see why they are concerned about us meeting the Head of State," said Mr Mwarandu, a lawyer and secretary of the Malindi District Cultural Association (Madca).

Mwarandu noted that Madca, as part of the Kaya institution, agitated for the election of Mnyenze as overall chairman of the Mijikenda Kaya Elders Association in 2012 and wondered why he appeared not to recognise them as Kaya elders.

He visited President Kenyatta with elders Benson Mbaruku, Daniel Korokoro and Juma Bembaita.

Mnyenze was this year elected as chairman of the Baraza Kuu La Wazee Wa Pwani (BKWP).