Elders want to meet Uhuru over governance

By Robert Nyasato 

KISII, KENYA: Elders from all communities are mobilising support in a bid to meet President Uhuru Kenyatta over issues around governance. 

The elders are concerned that with the many issues dogging the Jubilee administration, it was important for government leadership to consult with them on the way forward. 

Making the disclosure, Luo Council of Elders(LCE) Secretary General Sam Ayieko said efforts are at advanced stage to bring all elders across the country together to take stock with the government. 

“The country is highly polarised and it is only prudent that elders’ wisdom is sought to find a lasting solution,” Ayieko said. 

Speaking in Kisii on Wednesday after holding a meeting with Abagusii Culture and Development Council(ACDC) leaders, Ayieko said they would reach out to representatives of the elders to push their case. 

“We respect the elected leaders and that is why we need to give them our input for the sake of a united Kenya,” he said.

ACDC Chairman Araka Matundura said the elders’ had a role to arbitrate between warring political factions without taking sides.

He said uniting the elders for the sake of offering guidance to the government was in line with their role of safeguarding community interests. 

Ayieko said the Jubuilee Government that is fronting the youth agenda will get it wrong if it excluded the elderly in its programmes. 

He said currently the country seemed to be at war with its leaders and called for sobriety in handling the challenges facing the nation. 

The official said Uhuru should borrow a leaf from his late father-founding president Kenyatta who summoned the elders’ wisdom during he Tom Mboya crisis.

Commenting on the recent heckling of Jubilee leaders during a funeral service at Gusii Stadium, Ayieko said elders should not apportion blame but call for addressing of the grievances raised by the protestors.