Rift elders urge Raila to be wary of Gema

By Karanja Njoroge

A group of Rift Valley elders have told Prime Minister Raila Odinga to tread carefully while dealing with the Gikuyu Embu Meru Association (Gema).

The Rift Valley Council of Elders claimed Monday’s meeting between the PM and Gema leaders had a political motive.

Addressing a press conference in Nakuru, the elders led by council treasurer Gilbert Kabage dismissed Gema as a tribal outfit whose only intention is to protect the interest of a few individuals.

"We appreciate what the PM is doing by protecting all the water towers and we support him but not through Gema," Mr Kabage said.

The elders said Rift Valley residents have borne the brunt of the drought caused by destruction of the Mau forest and commended the PM for standing firm on the need to conserve the catchments.

Kabage said members of the Kikuyu community in Rift Valley should have nothing to do with Gema, as some of the organisation’s leaders were responsible for the problems the province was facing.

"The leaders have been misleading people since Kenyatta’s time to enrich themselves and protect their ill gotten wealth," he added.

Described Raila

They said the objective of any organisation at the moment should be to bring all communities together for the sake of peace.

During the meeting at the PM’s Treasury office the Gema delegation led by its chairman Lawi Imathiu and patron Njenga Karume expressed support for the Prime Minister’s policies.

The group described Raila as a leader committed to the welfare of ordinary Kenyans.

The meeting is said to have dwelt on resettlement of internally displaced persons, environmental conservation and the Constitution.