Deputy President Kithure Kindiki speaking during a meeting with leaders from Embu County.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is racing against time to review county charters Kenya Kwanza signed with the devolved units ahead of the 2022 elections as the next polls draw closer.
Prof Kindiki has been having marathon meetings with delegations from various counties at his Karen residence as he takes charge of the review of the charters to check the progress of their status implementation.
At the centre of the meetings is to ensure that the election pledges made during campaigns ahead of the 2022 elections are fulfilled as part of assuaging the public against the negative perception it has of the government.
The latest meeting happened on Thursday night when the DP met with MPs from the Mt Kenya region at his Karen residence for a follow-up of development activities in the region.
The leaders were drawn from Laikipia, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Kiambu, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties.
Deputy President Kithure Kindinki during a consultative meeting with MPs from Laikipia, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Kiambu, Murang'a, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi on March 13, 2025.
A dispatch from the DP’s communication team indicates that discussions revolved around addressing challenges that impede development in the region.
Prof Kindiki updated MPs on the government's progress in ensuring road projects in the region such as the Mau Mau roads and Kenol-Marwa Highway.
The DP also appraised the lawmakers on policy and administrative intervention taken by the government to facilitate the revitalisation of agricultural value chains such as tea, coffee, milk, rice, potatoes, macadamia, miraa, poultry and muguka.
Unfilled promises by President William Ruto is among the major headache of the Kenya Kwanza administration, a factor that has made the public hostile towards the government.
With only two and half years to the 2027 elections, Prof Kindiki has now taken charge of the charters as part of assisting President Ruto in fulfilling his pledges.
DP Kithure Kindiki during a meeting with Kajiado County delegation at his official Karen residence on January 24 2025.
So far, the Deputy President has hosted delegations from Embu, Taita Taveta, Kajiado, Tharaka Nithi, Isiolo, Samburu, Kiambu and Meru counties in reviewing the charters that they signed with President Ruto.
These evaluation meetings bring together elected leaders and grassroots representatives for one-on-one engagement with the Deputy President to discuss the progress of the charters and what should be done to accelerate or adjust them for faster realisation.
This initiative is part of the Deputy President’s role in holding annual review meetings for the economic charters.
“This role belongs to the Deputy President, and I have undertaken to fulfil it, even though it has not been done for two years,” the Deputy President stated during one of the meetings with Kajiado delegations.
The meetings have also provided an opportunity for counties to readjust their development priorities and advocate for new projects.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki hosts a consultative forum with Meru leaders on priority development projects and implementation of Government programmes at his official residence in Karen on February 18, 2025.
The rejection of the Finance Bill, 2024 caused a financial gap in the government's expectations as far as revenue is concerned forcing the Kenya Kwanza administration to review its priorities lined up for this year.
Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki said the review of the charters ought to have started two years ago during the tenure of former DP Rigathi Gachagua.
“For the last two years, when the previous DP was there, there was not even a single development meeting that took place in Karen but now we see all the 47 county charters being reviewed and progress followed by DP himself,” Mr Mbiuki said.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (centre) and governors during the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council meeting at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi on December 13, 2024
Apart from the county charters, Prof Kindiki is also at the centre of tracking 168 commitments across 10 sectors outlined in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.
“We are monitoring them one by one to assess our progress and ensure we fulfil them before the next elections so that the manifesto does not remain just a piece of paper. It must have real meaning,” Prof Kindiki said.
“When we engage with the people, I will have to account for the time I have spent in this office. I have no choice but to deliver on the mandate assigned to me. I must account for every day I occupy this position. Improving the lives of the people is what keeps me awake,” added the Deputy President.
smundu@ke.nationmedia.com
