Kindiki slams MP Mpuru over community numbers remark

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki/DPCS

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has slammed MP Mpuru Aburi over remarks that he comes from a community with a few number of voters.

According to Kindiki, such talk is of no importance because, at the end of the day, we are one country.

“Nimeskia Mbunge hapa anataja watu kabila hii iko watu hawa, sijui Wapare ni wangapi, kabila ingine ni wangapi. Mambo ya kuhesabu jamii zetu ni mambo ambayo hayana maana sana kwa sababu sisi sote ni taifa moja la Kenya. Nchi moja, taifa moja, bendera moja na Ramani moja ya taifa,” he said.

This loosely translates to, “I have heard a member of parliament here mention the people of this tribe, how many are there, how many other tribes are there. Counting our communities are things that are of little significance because we are all one Kenyan nation. One country, one nation, one flag and one national map.”

The Deputy President’s sentiments were in response to Mpuru, who said that those who think people of Tharaka Nithi have no numbers are misled.

Mpuru insisted that just like other communities, there are Tharaka’s in Meru, Embu, Tigania, Igembe and Tharaka itself, and they make about one million votes put together.

“No one should say the people of Tharaka are few. People of Tharaka are like Kikuyu’s, just like we have Kikuyu’s from Murang’a, Nyeri and Kirinyaga, we also have Tharaka’s of Meru, Tigania, Embu and Igembe and we have a one million votes. They all belong to President William Ruto.”

Mpuru was among the leaders who had accompanied the DP to a series of title deed issuance functions in Taita Taveta.

Kindiki further called on the people of Taita Taveta to stay united and work together towards making the country better.

He also called for respect for each other, adding that it is the only way to have a good country for all.

“I am asking my colleagues and citizens of the Republic of Kenya so that our country continues to move forward and respect each other. Even those who express different opinions should express them with respect. Honor is not slavery; let's be honourable people. Insults are not democracy. The time for the vote will come.

“We must respect each other. The leaders must respect the people; the people must respect other people and leaders, older people must respect the youth and the youth must respect older people that is the only way of having a good country.”

The DP spoke as he witnessed the issuance of title deeds in Eldoro Taveta, Taita Taveta County.

Earlier in the day, he had presided over a similar ceremony in Chala Njukini in the Taita Taveta county.