Kikuyu council of elders has urged leaders from central region to tone down their political differences and rhetorics.
The elders said it is time the community came together and healed from the divisions created by last year’s general election.
Chairperson Wachira Wa Kiago said numerous conflicts being witnessed among leaders may cause divisions and undermine development.
“Politics come and go and everybody has a right to vote the way they see fit but the community has to remain together,” he said.
Kiago said the community is facing challenges which require urgent attention.
He cited issue of alcoholism, drugs abuse and many cases of insecurity witnessed in region.
The region that voted overwhelmingly for the ruling Kenya Kwanza has in the recent past seen its leaders exchange words publicly.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has consistently criticised former President Uhuru Kenyatta over his style of leadership.
Two weeks ago, Gachagua had a public exchange of words with Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria over Kuria's remarks on hiked fuel prices.
Kiago said the council has started a programme to end alcoholism, drug abuse and homosexuality.
He appealed to community members to shun cultural groupings that encourage retrogressive practices like female genital mutilation.
“We condemn strongly anybody using culture to lead others astray. Let people seek the right information from the right elders and not those who are after making money,” Kiago said.
Kiago said this at Kahuro grounds in Murang’a during a ceremony in which the county council chairperson Joakim Gitonga handed over leadership after 18 years.
Gitonga a nonagenarian, retired due to his age.
The council’s secretary general James Nene said ensuring strong family values is one of its main objectives.
He emphasized the need for residents to continue observing cultural values designed by the forefathers to bring the community together.
“Even Christianity that we have adopted whole heartedly would progress better if it found us in our cultural background," Nene said.
He appealed to political leaders to move past elections politics and heal the country.
“We appeal to leaders to forego their electoral bitterness. We have heard some talk ill of others and we urge them to allow the populace to heal and move on," Nene said.
He said the central region needs to re-engineer itself and focus on unity to face its challenges.
“We are facing a poor economy and a looming El-Nino, and we need to work together to face the challenges," Nene said.
Mucheru Mareri, the new council chairperson in Murang’a, said he will work with members to bring order by holding meetings with locals in the subcounties to discuss the social challenges they are facing.
The fight against drugs and alcoholism, he said, can be won if everyone worked.