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Keep off deputy president’s seat, Kithure Kindiki allies tell Oburu Oginga
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during a Resource Mobilisation Forum for Mìarìro Women Groups and small-scale traders, Nyeri Town.
Leaders in Mt Kenya region are expected to hold a second “unity meeting” on Friday in an effort to rally the region behind Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. This is a follow-up to another forum held last week.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has said that the last meeting was inconclusive, and another one will be held at Thika Greens in Murang’a County.
“We’re consulting…We have a lot of things to discuss. At the end of the meetings, we will talk to you,” Mr Ruku told Nation in a phone interview.
He spoke moments before a church function that was attended by Prof Kindiki in Mbeere North.
The engagement among Mt Kenya leaders is centred around the deputy president’s position ahead of the 2027 General Election. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which is part of the broad-based government, is also eyeing the seat. This has sent shivers in Mt Kenya region. Lawmakers from the area have begun consultations to forestall a possible replacement of Prof Kindiki.
ODM leader Dr Oburu Oginga has said that the party wants to be given the position as it prepares for coalition talks with President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Jolted by the possibility of losing the DP’s slot, at least 40 leaders from Mt Kenya region, led by CS Ruku, met in Meru on Friday night to chart the way forward. Water Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa was part of the meeting.
However, despite spending the night holding discussions, the meeting ended without a conclusive resolution.
During the meeting in Embu County, Mr Ruku told off ODM leader Dr Oginga over his demands for the DP’s position. He said that the incessant demands were provocative.
Mr Ruku and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire told Dr Oginga that the DP’s seat was not vacant, and he should forget it.
Speaking at Kanthoki Full Gospel Church in Mbeere North Constituency, Embu County, the leaders accused Dr Oginga of seeking to dislodge Prof Kindiki for his own selfish political interests.
Also present were MPs Eric Muchangi (Runyenjes), Gitonga Murugara (Tharaka), Woman Representatives Njoki Njeru ( Embu ) and Susan Ngugi ( Tharaka-Nthi), as well as Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi.
The leaders said that the DP’s position belonged to Prof Kindiki and nobody can snatch it from him.
“Prof Kindiki is the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya; he will be the DP even up to 2032. ODM should look for another seat and leave Kindiki alone. In 2032, Prof Kindiki will be vying for the presidency,” said Mr Ruku.
“The seat of the DP is for Mt Kenya region, and we shall defend it. Nobody can take it away from us; we shall stand with Kindiki and make him even stronger to vie for the presidency in 2032,” he added.
However, the CS said that they respected the broad-based government, but he asked ODM to be patient until 2032 when they will seat down with Prof Kindiki and negotiate on who will deputise him when he will be seeking the top seat.
“We are in the broad-based government for the sake of the unity of our country, but ODM should forget the seat of DP. If they (ODM) want competition, we are ready to compete with them,” Mr Ruku said, adding that Dr Oginga should “stop annoying the Mountain”.
He said that since Prof Kindiki took over the DP’s seat, the government has been stable and there is development “in all corners of the country.”
Speaking during the same function, Prof Kindiki steered clear of the debate. He asked leaders to focus on development.
He downplayed the tension that is building, and asked leaders to “go slow’ on politics. He said that President Ruto’s administration was committed to delivering all the promises that it made to Kenyans.
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Reporting by Gitonga Marete, George Munene and David Machui
