Elders push to reconcile Ruto and Matiang’i ahead of President’s Kisii visit
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Ruto, Matiang’i reconciliation in process ahead of President's visit to Kisii County later this month
Ruto, Matiang’i reconciliation in process ahead of President’s visit to Kisii County later this month.
According to sources, there are concerted efforts to make amends between President William Ruto and former Interior Ministry Secretary Fred Matiang’i.
Ezekiel Machogu, the cabinet secretary for education, met with the former CS in what several sources claim is the first step toward mending fences and bringing the Gusii community together.
In addition to current and former Gusii politicians, local elders, and church leaders attended the gathering, which was organized to foster amity and reconciliation in the area.
The meeting comes ahead of Mr Machogu’s homecoming ceremony on March 24 where President Ruto is also expected at the event.
Political tension had been building in the two counties of Kisii and Nyamira over Matiangi’s mishandling by Ruto’s administration over alleged house raid.
Elders were not pleased with how the government treated Dr. Matiang’i, including breaking into his home, according to sources at the Machogu-Matiang’i meeting.
They claimed that the ongoing persecution of the former CS was creating unrest in Gusii and that this situation needed to be resolved immediately.
According to sources, there was a lot of tension in the region as a consequence of the government’s “harassment” of the former, powerful CS, and the atmosphere was not favorable for President Ruto’s visit.
Notably, just a day after the meeting, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions released a statement indicating that there was no evidence to sustain charges against Dr Matiang’i and his lawyer, Mr Omari.
Several government agencies have in the last one month been going after Dr Matiang’i including the DCI and EACC.
Sources present at the meeting indicated that the gathering had the blessings of President Ruto who has been saying that his focus is in uniting Kenyans.
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“We cannot continue fighting as a community. Other regions are united and protecting their own, whether in the current or former regime. Here in Gusii, we focus too much on small fights, which are not useful to anyone. It is time we heeded the unity call and forge forward together,” said Mr Nyamoko who is serving his second term as an MP.
He explained that other leaders who served in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime retired ‘peacefully’, all because of their community’s unity and protection of their own.
The elders were categorical that both the government and Dr Matiang’i should respect each other and should any of the parties have any issues, it should pass through them first before getting to the public.
The meeting passed three resolutions that will see further meetings being held to sort out Dr Matiang’is current woes and enhance the Gusii community’s unity.
First, all elected leaders from the region are expected to meet soon and hold discussions that will culminate in a meeting with President Ruto.
Mr Nyamoko was mandated to organise the Gusii lawmakers meeting soon.
Among emerging issues is how elected leaders should carry themselves going forward.
Also read,
Ruto ally hits out at Sakaja for calling for talks with Raila
DPP directs DCI to close file against Matiang’i
Matiang’i meets CS Machogu ahead of Ruto’s tour of Kisii
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