From left: National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, Belgut MP Nelson Koech, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and Nominated MP Sabina Chege.
Members of Parliament have lauded Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for reclaiming the dignity of the office one year after taking over from his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua.
Prof Kindiki, who marked one year in office on November 1 as the third deputy president under the 2010 Constitution following the impeachment of Mr Gachagua, received unanimous endorsement from both Houses of Parliament.
It was a historic endorsement, as all the 236 MPs who were present in the House on October 18, 2024, voted “Yes,” with no abstentions recorded.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki speaking during a women’s empowerment event at Moi Kabartonjo Primary School in Baringo County on August 3, 2025.
One year later, MPs have said Prof Kindiki has lived up to their expectations and has stabilised the government.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah said Prof Kindiki has come out as a unifying, strong leader and a key anchor to the government’s development agenda.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah
“He has a clear understanding of all government programmes and is focused in his leadership approach. He has emerged as a leader who is mindful of and focused on the delivery of government programs, clearly articulating the same and assisting the President in their implementation,” Mr Ichung’wah said.
As a unifying factor, Mr Ichung’wah said Prof Kindiki has cut the image of a national leader who listens to all, irrespective of where one comes from, and is helping unite the country away from the retrogressive, narrow, sectarian, and ethnic-based politics of his predecessor.
Serving all Kenyans
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed said Prof Kindiki has shown, under the new Constitution, what a Deputy President should do, as he has been loyal and has assisted the President in executing the government’s agenda.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed.
“He hasn’t balkanised the country like his predecessor. This is a person who has been to Kisumu, Migori, Turkana, Mombasa, and Nyeri. He is serving all Kenyans equally, not just the people of Tharaka-Nithi, where he comes from,” Mr Mohamed said.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot said Prof Kindiki has brought the much-needed backup support that the Kenya Kwanza administration required, adding that his deep understanding of government policy matters helps him explain them in a language the ordinary citizen can understand.
Politically, Mr Cheruiyot said, “The DP is a self-assured man who doesn’t force loyalty through intimidation or blackmail. He is comfortable being a deputy and enjoys it that way.”
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki greets residents at Onger in Nyatike Constituency, Migori County on July 26, 2025.
Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi said Prof Kindiki will go down in history as one of the best Deputy Presidents the country has seen.
Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi.
“Compared to his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, and his divisive politics of shares and ethnic bravado, Prof Kindiki has been a blessing to this country. Given the nature of our politics, he will be cheered by some and jeered by others. But when the history of this period is finally written, he will go down as one of the best Deputy Presidents this country has seen,” Mr Murungi said.
“As a leader of the Meru community, I have seen and worked with several vice presidents. I think Kindiki has done an excellent job in his first year in office. We have seen him all over the country representing the President in implementing the BETA agenda with economic empowerment programs. He recently did an excellent job managing Raila’s funeral arrangements,” he added.
Belgut MP Nelson Koech said Prof Kindiki has returned the Office of the Deputy President to its default settings and core role as the principal assistant to the President, unlike his predecessor, who was busy trying to turn the office into an alternative centre of power.
Belgut MP Nelson Koech.
“There is no doubt in the mind of any right-thinking Kenyan that in Prof Kindiki, the country has a far better and more competent Deputy President than his predecessor could ever aspire to be. This definitely has to do with the political and professional experience of the incumbent DP, who is a full professor and has served both as Majority Leader of the Senate and Deputy Speaker, building consensus and rallying other leaders to achieve common goals and targets,” Mr Koech said.
Mr Koech pointed out that the Office of the President and the Office of the Deputy President are now working as one, and working in tandem has made policy communication more coherent and policy execution more seamless, as it should be.
“All members of the Executive can clearly see that the President and his Deputy are pulling in the same direction, and that makes it easier to execute and support the government agenda,” Mr Koech said.
Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri said that since Prof Kindiki came to office, he has managed to stabilise the government and has successfully disseminated government positions on issues affecting the people.
Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri.
“We have not witnessed any internal fights as before. I have also not heard any CS or civil servant complaining about him. He is calm, consults widely, including with MPs from across the political divide, before doing anything. He has managed to meet our expectations as MPs,” Mr Kiunjuri said.
Politically weak
Nominated MP Sabina Chege said Prof Kindiki is the perfect DP that President Ruto needed, adding that he will surprise many people who think he is weak politically.
Nominated MP Sabina Chege.
“Through the empowerment programme, he has managed to articulate the government’s agenda very well, unlike before when the President was doing it by himself, and this made people doubt him because the previous DP would come out and contradict him,” Ms Chege said.
At the Cabinet level, Prof Kindiki has earned the respect of many CSs, especially for how he handles Cabinet Committee meetings.
A Cabinet Secretary who spoke to Daily Nation in confidence said the Cabinet Committee meetings now have value, and their outcomes can be measured.
The CS said the meetings nowadays are very serious, and documents presented are perused in detail before adoption.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during Kitui West Constituency Economic Empowerment Programme for Women Groups at Kwa Mutonga in Kitui County.
“You cannot go to that meeting if you are not fully prepared because he reads every document keenly, intently, and attentively; therefore, you cannot mislead him. I remember early this year, one of my colleagues was told to go back and prepare a solid document that could be presented before the President,” said the CS.
Cabinet Committee meetings provide a forum for the highest decision-making organ to fine-tune government business and make Cabinet sessions chaired by the President seamless.
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