Elders on collision course with Meru leaders

Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki is installed as a Njuri Ncheke elder and Meru spokesman in Chiakariga, Tharaka Nithi County, recently. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

The Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders has dictated the direction of the larger Meru community in Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties for ages.

The revered elders traditionally settled domestic, land and other disputes. Their word was law and anyone opposing them suffered grave consequences.

But this is no longer the case and residents say the elders should confine themselves to arbitrating domestic and land rows.

The elders' latest decision to install Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki as spokesman of the Ameru community has not gone down well with some leaders from the Meru side.

The elders came under a scathing attack on social media and the latest development was the main topic of debate in Meru churches and social settings.

Meru Deputy Speaker Gideon Kimathi, also a Njuri Ncheke elder, said he was "scandalised after his fellow elders endorsed Kindiki as the community’s spokesman".

"Only the top leadership of Njuri made that decision. It is Phares Ruteere (secretary general) and Paul M’Ethinkia (chairman) who made the decision. Senator Kiraitu Murungi is the accepted de facto leader of the Ameru. As elders, we did not have any gathering to change that, so status quo remains,” said Mr Kimathi.

He said there was a lot of disapproval over the elders' move.

"We don't want a small section of elders to make decisions unilaterally. All elders must be consulted before decisions are made,” said Kimathi, adding that Governor Peter Munya and Murungi were the accepted leaders of the community.

Radical means

"Kindiki is misusing the elders instead of using them to unite our two counties. We are opposed to people who use radical means to penetrate Meru County,” he said yesterday.

Kimathi wondered where the senator was when Meru County got a paltry eight kilometres of roads from the national government.

"There is a lot of poverty in Meru and Tharaka Nithi, and impoverished people just need resources. Kindiki should lead efforts to bring in resources,” he said.

But Prof Kindiki has dismissed those opposed to his coronation, saying he will not be distracted by dissenting voices.

"The task I have been given is to bring all Ameru people together so we can build bridges and talk to other regions," said the majority leader.

Governor Munya reacted sharply yesterday to the coronation, saying he would not allow Njuri Ncheke's name to be soiled by a few individuals.

"Spokesmen are the leaders of various units. County assembly members and MPs are spokesmen in their own right. The Meru governor is the spokesman of the county.

"We do not want people (elders) who are auctioning the community for Sh20,000. We will resist that. They are traitors of the community," he said.

Speaking in Meru town yesterday, some elders said they had called for fresh elections at their Nchiru shrine headquarters on Saturday.

"Mr Ruteere and Mr M’Ethinkia have made big mistakes in our name," said Stephen Thinkei, who said he was the elders' chairman.

Meru County Assembly Majority Leader Ayub Bundi, also an elder, said they would conduct a poll this Saturday to determine whether to retain or do away with Njuri Ncheke.

But Ruteere said any polls would be illegal as the group's constitution says only he and the chairman can call for elections.