After President Uhuru Kenyatta and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga agreed to bury their differences and work together, Kikuyu and Luo elders are ready to follow the same path.
The delegation of more than 500 elders on Saturday will make a historic trip to Raila’s Bondo home —popularly known as Kango Kajaramogi — where they will meet and make a political truce that will likely catapult Raila to power.
The meeting, the first of its kind, is the clearest indication that influential figures close to State House are keen on backing Raila and not Deputy President William Ruto for the country’s top job.
The Luo Council of Elders and several MPs from Raila’s Nyanza backyard will attend.
After the Bondo meeting, the Luo elders and select political leaders will also be hosted for the second part of the meeting in Nyeri county on October 30.
Raila’s elder brother and EALA MP Oburu Odinga confirmed that preparations are in top gear to welcome the visitors. He declined to elaborate.
“For us, we are preparing to host them. A visitor is the one who comes with an agenda. It’s our visitor, whom we are eager to host, who will tell us how they see things,” Oburu said.
“When a visitor comes calling, you wait to listen to their message. You cannot be the one setting the agenda. Issues will be canvassed at the meeting.”
On the same Saturday, former Prime Minister Raila and the President are expected to attend an inter-faith national prayer service at State House, Nairobi.
The Luos and the Kikuyus have been the strongest antagonists in most post-Independence elections.
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However, the two communities worked together at two critical historical moments — at Independence when Jomo Kenyatta became the first president — and in 2002 when Kenyans ended Kanu’s 24-year rule through the election of Mwai Kibaki
On Thursday, Kikuyu Council of Elders chairman Wachira Kiago confirmed they will travel to Bondo. They said when they are united with Luo Nyanza, those seeking the region’s vote cannot obstruct their goal.
“We are now friends; there is nothing that can stop us from engaging each other. We will meet with Nyanza elders and expect they will also visit us. The cohesion will bring lasting peace between us,” he said.
The elders’ endorsements come months after Uhuru’s man and Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe told Kenyans to brace for Raila’s presidency.
