A leadership struggle in the Kikuyu Council of Elders in the Rift Valley has split the community, with one camp allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and the other Deputy President William Ruto.
The split is likely to affect voting patterns in the Kikuyu community.
Stung by the row, allies of DP Ruto camped in the region for two days in to convince the community to back him.
The community has more than 1.5 million votes in the region and Ruto allies are trying to persuade them to support the DP and UDA in the August 9 general election.
The row emerged after the faction allied to DP Ruto installed mzee George Kinyanjui, 75, as spokesman for the group at a low-key event last November.
Last week, the group allied to President Kenyatta and the ODM chief Raila Odinga installed mzee Joseph Gatonye Kimani at a colourful ceremony in Eldoret.
The ceremony by the Kenyatta camp last week was well attended by leaders from the region, including politician Bundotich Buzeki, Kesses MP Swarrup Mishra and Langas MCA Julius Muya.
Others not in the the Uhuru-Raila camp attended the event, including Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno and governor aspirant Vesca Kangogo. None of the local leaders attended the November event.
On Monday, DP Ruto allies admitted the split among the elders was a major concern to them. They were lead by Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, Naivasha MP Jane Kihara, Kandara MP Alice Wahome and UDA patron in Uasin Gishu Joseph Wainaina
“We are here to talk to our people and discuss who to support in the August elections and that is DP William Ruto,” Ngunjiri said after meeting community representatives from the region in Eldoret town.
Ngunjiri and Wainaina said they had resolved to back Ruto and not any other candidate.
But the Kikuyu elders who attended the installation of Mzee Gatonye, said they will be guided by President Kenyatta on who to support as his successor.
The elders from Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia and Nandi said they fully support the President as the community leader and will go by his choice.
Their spokesman, Ndungu wa Kimani, said the community cannot afford to ignore the President, yet he steered the country peacefully and he knows the right choice of the next leader. The President has indicated he is likely to support Raila.
The elders have influence in the community and the fight to control them is likely to intensify in the run-up to the elections.
(Edited by V. Graham)