Kaya elders drawn from the Coastal region led by Mijikenda Kaya elders coordinator Tsuma Nzai and Nguma Charo meet at Kaya Fungo in Kaloleni Sub County, Kilifi County where they denounced former Matuga MP Chirau Ali Makwere for his dalliance with DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua. Photo by Ben Okweingoti 
By Ben Okweingoti.
The Mijikenda Kaya Elders have distanced themselves from former Cabinet Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, declaring that he does not speak on behalf of the Mijikenda community and accusing him of pursuing personal political interests through his association with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking during a press briefing at Kaya Fungo Giriama in Kaloleni Constituency, Kilifi County, the elders dismissed Mwakwere's claim to being the community's spokesperson, insisting that only the Kaya Elders have the mandate to provide political and cultural direction to the Mijikenda people.
The elders further accused Gachagua of attempting to sow divisions within the Mijikenda community through his recent political engagements, vowing that they would resist any efforts to fracture the unity of the Coast region's largest community.
They maintained that the Mijikenda community remains firmly behind President William Ruto's administration, citing ongoing efforts by the government to address historical land injustices and implement key development projects across the Coast region.
Nguma Charo, the Youth Representative of the Mijikenda Kaya Elders, said Mwakwere had overstepped his authority by presenting himself as the community's spokesperson.
"We summoned him before the elders and gave him a 14-day ultimatum to apologise for misleading the public, but he ignored the summons because he knows he is not the spokesman of the Mijikenda," Charo said.
He questioned why Mwakwere was attending opposition meetings while claiming to represent the entire community, arguing that such actions were neither sanctioned by the elders nor supported by the wider Mijikenda population.
Charo further claimed that leaders who recently met Gachagua had previously held influential positions in government but failed to address the challenges facing Coast residents.
"We are supporting the government because we want the longstanding issues affecting our people to be resolved," he said.
Shungu Thuva, a Kaya elder from Kilifi County, said any political leader seeking to engage the Mijikenda community should do so through the Kaya Elders rather than individuals claiming to speak on the community's behalf.
"We have never appointed Mwakwere as our spokesman. His actions do not reflect the position of the Mijikenda community," Thuva stated.
Hamisi Juma, a Kaya elder from Kwale County, also criticised Mwakwere's meeting with Gachagua, saying it was misleading for him to suggest that the Mijikenda community had shifted its support to the opposition.
He clarified that the elders' objection was not personal but was rooted in protecting the values and traditions of the community.
Juma also appealed for a meeting with President William Ruto, saying the elders wished to present the region's pressing concerns directly to the Head of State.
"Our leaders often praise the President whenever he visits the Coast but fail to tell him the real challenges affecting our people. We want an opportunity to speak to him directly," he said.
Jenjeo Mwapate, a Kaya elder from Matuga—Mwakwere's home area—criticised the former minister's political record, arguing that despite serving as an MP for a decade and later as a Cabinet Minister, he had failed to improve the lives of residents or recognise the role of the Kaya Elders during his time in government.
"He only remembers the elders now that he is out of power. During his years in government, he never involved or recognised the Mijikenda leadership," Mwapate said.
He added that the elders remained committed to engaging President Ruto and dismissed claims that Gachagua enjoys significant political backing in the Coast region.
Also speaking during the briefing, Mijikenda Kaya Elders Coordinator Tsuma Nzai Kombe accused Gachagua of pursuing a divisive political agenda through his engagement with Mwakwere.
"Kaya Elders are not politicians; they provide guidance to the community. When we saw Mwakwere meeting Gachagua and claiming to speak for all Mijikenda, the community was shocked," Kombe said.
He said the former Deputy President had failed to demonstrate respect for the community's traditional leadership structures by meeting only Mwakwere instead of engaging the elders collectively.
Kombe added that the elders were not opposed to opposition politics but objected to any attempt by individuals to claim the authority to represent the Mijikenda without the endorsement of the community's recognised traditional leadership.
He also questioned why Gachagua did not hold a broader consultative meeting involving other opposition principals and the Kaya Elders if his intention was to engage the Coast region genuinely.
