By Murugi Ndwiga
In a landmark show of unity, four prominent councils of elders have joined forces to promote peace, development, and inclusivity across Embu County, a region often marred by ethnic tensions during election periods.
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
The councils- Nyangi Ndiiriri (Embu), Ngome (Mbeere), Mwea Council of Elders (Mwea/Makima), and Kiama Kia Maa (Kikuyu), met in Embu Town under the chairmanship of Andrew Ireri Njeru to chart a joint roadmap for peace, unity, and equitable development.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Njeru said the elders were determined to end decades of ethnic division, marginalization, and political rivalry.
“We cannot allow politics to keep tearing our communities apart every election season,” he said. “Peace must prevail, and every community in Embu must feel included, respected, and developed.”
The elders identified key causes of unrest, including the marginalization of minority groups, unequal distribution of resources, and a lack of inclusivity in county leadership.
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The unity effort follows recent violence in Siakago Town, where miraa traders of Meru origin were evicted, property worth millions destroyed, and several homes torched.
Mr. Njeru criticized county leadership for failing to act decisively.
“Our elected leaders, especially Governor Cecily Mbarire, have a duty to guide and protect all citizens, regardless of their ethnic background,” he said.
The meeting also revisited the 2010 Embu Peace Comprehensive Agreement between the Ngome and Nyangi Ndiiriri elders, which had successfully united the county during the tenure of former Governor Martin Nyaga Wambora and Senator Lenny Kivuti. The agreement later collapsed amid political disagreements in 2017.
Determined to revive the spirit of unity, the elders resolved to draft a new peace and inclusivity charter, the Embu County Peace and Development Forum Document, that will guide the next administration on fair power-sharing, representation, and equitable development.
According to Mr. Njeru, the revised document will ensure that “each community gets at least one County Executive Committee Member and two Chief Officer positions.”
The forum, comprising 49 elders and one youth representative with a university degree from each ethnic group, will finalize the document before their next meeting on November 21, 2025.
“This is a new beginning for Embu County,” said Mwea elder Peter Nthiga. “Our children deserve peace, unity, and meaningful development, not politics of division.”