Rising Political Heat in Kiambu Sparks Unity Calls from Leaders

A renewed and urgent call for unity, decorum, and issue-based politics has emerged in Kiambu County, with political aspirants warning that rising tensions and the growing culture of goonism could derail development and destabilize the region ahead of the next general election.

Speaking after an aspirants meeting in Thika ,the leaders expressed concern over increasing cases of public confrontations among politicians, noting that such incidents are not only undermining leadership credibility but also shifting focus away from service delivery.

Kiambu gubernatorial aspirant John Mwaura criticised the trend of political hostility, noting that divisions among leaders have, in some cases, played out during high-profile events, including presidential visits, where heckling and disorder have overshadowed development agendas.

“You cannot move forward as a community when leaders are constantly fighting and insulting each other. Leadership is about service, not chaos,” said Mwaura. “We must bring an end to goonism in our politics and instead focus on unity and development. Public resources belong to the people, and leaders must be accountable in how they are used.”

Mwaura emphasised that elected leaders have a constitutional duty to serve wananchi and should remain focused on their core mandates. He particularly challenged Members of Parliament to prioritise legislation, oversight, and representation rather than engaging in confrontational and disruptive political behavior.

He further called on all leaders across Kiambu County to embrace dialogue and mutual respect, warning that without unity, meaningful and sustainable development would remain out of reach.

Echoing his sentiments, Thika town parliamentary aspirant Julia Wanyoike strongly condemned the increasing use of violence, intimidation, and hired goons in political campaigns, describing it as a worrying departure from the values of peaceful democratic engagement.

“As a leader, I will not be part of goonism. I believe in engaging people through dialogue and upholding justice and peace,” she said. “Our politics must be guided by integrity, respect, and a genuine desire to serve the people.”

Wanyoike added that her leadership philosophy is anchored on faith and community values, noting that her involvement in church has shaped her commitment to peacebuilding and justice.

“First of all I’m a member of justice and peace, which is in the Catholic Church, and that way, I am driven by that belief that we need to have justice and peace, So for myself, I will not participate in goonism, but I’ll talk with the people,”Julia added.

At the same time, the leaders rallied support for unity within the Democracy for citizens Party (DCP) during the party’s nominations early next year.

“We must stand together as one people. Our strength lies in unity, and that is what will carry us through nominations and into the general election,” he said.

John Kimani who is vying for the member of county assembly called for internal cohesion, expressing confidence in the party leadership’s commitment to delivering a free, fair, and credible nomination process.

He urged party officials to uphold transparency and fairness to maintain trust among aspirants and their supporters.

“We believe in the assurance given by our party leader Rigathi Gachagua that the nominations will be conducted in a free and fair manner. That is the only way we can move forward as a united party,” Kimani stated.

In recent past Kiambu politics took center stage during President William Ruto’s visit to Juja and Thika, as supporters of Governor Kimani Wamatangi and Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a competed for dominance through chants and song.

The rivalry was evident during recent presidents tour in Juja and Thika when from early morning, with supporters from both camps dancing atop vehicles and chanting slogans ahead of the President’s arrival in Juja.

During the speeches, the two sides continued to cheer loudly, each trying to outshine the other as the President looked on.

In his address, the President William Ruto took a swipe at his political rivals, vowing to continue calling them out, insisting they were responsible for escalating political tensions.

ENDS