The Kikuyu Council of Elders has advised President Uhuru Kenyatta to reward the community for its overwhelming support in the Presidential election by appointing its members to the cabinet.
Led by Secretary-General Rev Peter Munga, the elders stated that Central Kenya had backed President Kenyatta's re-election bid and therefore deserved to feature prominently in the new cabinet.
The elders are expected to issue a comprehensive statement after their annual meeting and prayers at the Agikuyu ancestral shrine at Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga in Murang’a County on Sunday.
Rev Munga told President Kenyatta that they would not accept appointments that pointed to what they termed entrenched 'marginalization of the majority'.
Also, the elders advised President Kenyatta not to shy away from triggering by-elections by appointing elected leaders with public service track records to his cabinet.
[caption caption="Members of the Kikuyu Council of Elders, Gatundu Branch, at Mama Ngina Kenyatta's home"]
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“There are leaders with proven records in their past assignments in the public service. The President should not be limited to the so-called professionals.
"In Central Kenya, we have strong leaders with proven records in service delivery in Kipipiri or Ndaragwa constituencies for instance,” he continued.
Kipipiri Constituency is represented by former Finance minister Amos Kimunya while Ndaragwa is led by former Party of National Unity (PNU) Chief Whip Jeremiah Kioni.
Finally, the elders blasted the region's elected leaders for remaining silent on the cabinet appointments and failing to forge a united front in recent times.
“To date, they are unable to constitute the regional parliamentary caucus, they are unable to present a united front in Parliament and stand up to apparent bullying by Mr Aden Duale in the National Assembly and Mr Kipchumba Murkomen in the Senate.
They are unable to articulate the present needs of the region. The President serves the whole country, but our elected leaders are silent on our concerns,” Rev Munga lamented.
[caption caption="A past prayer meeting of the Kikuyu Council of Elders in Murang'a"]
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