A political rift has emerged within President William Ruto's camp after Deputy President Kithure Kindiki publicly rejected Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku's push to split the Mt Kenya region into eastern and western political blocs.
The disagreement, coming days after the opposition's victory in the Ol Kalou by-election reignited debate over the region's political direction, exposes growing tensions over how Kenya Kwanza should respond to shifting political loyalties in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service for Embu Anglican Diocese at St Mark's Teachers College in Kigari, Embu County, Prof Kindiki declared that he would not allow any attempts to politically divide the region.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (centre) during a thanksgiving service for Embu Anglican Diocese at St Mark's Teachers College in Kigari, Embu County on July 19, 2026.
Photo credit: DPCS
“I don't want our people to speak in different languages. We have done many things together, we have a long history and there is nothing that can divide us. As the Deputy President, I will ensure that the Mountain remains united. At the moment I'm the Deputy President and I will make sure our communities walk together,” Prof Kindiki said.
He also renewed his appeal for the region to remain firmly behind President William Ruto, arguing that backing the President's re-election offered Mt Kenya the clearest path to producing the country's next Head of State.
“I want us to have an honest conversation with our people. After William Ruto, ni sisi. Ile team nyingine tuko number 20; tutafikiwa after 200 years,” he said.
The remarks directly contradict CS Ruku's recent campaign for greater political and economic autonomy for Mt Kenya East. Later, while speaking to the Nation on Sunday, Mr Ruku sought to play down the apparent disagreement, saying he fully supported Prof Kindiki's call for unity and that his earlier remarks were confined to local political concerns.
“When I talk about splitting, I am looking at the local issues and if I see anything going wrong I will speak up. The DP is right about uniting all Kenyans,” the CS said.
Later on, while at AIC Kabartonjo Church in Baringo North on Sunday, Mr Ruku said Mount Kenya East had firmly resolved to remain in the Kenya Kwanza camp and would not be swayed by DCP Leader and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's campaigns.
The declaration came days after the Opposition's victory in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, which Mr Gachagua's allies have portrayed as evidence that President Ruto has lost the support of the wider Mount Kenya region.
Mr Ruku dismissed that narrative, arguing that the by-election was not a reliable indicator of the 2027 presidential race.
Public Service and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku addresses journalists at NYS Engineering Institute on March 8, 2026.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
“Gachagua is chest-thumping after the Ol Kalou by-election, claiming he controls the Mount Kenya vote. If Raila could only lose by a small margin when Mount Kenya did not support him, how does Gachagua expect to defeat President Ruto in 2027?" he posed.
The CS maintained that isolated electoral losses should not cause panic within Kenya Kwanza, drawing parallels with the 1992 General Election when former President Daniel arap Moi retained power despite losing support in parts of the country.
"If the voters of Ol Kalou choose not to support President Ruto in 2027, that is their democratic right. President Ruto will still win with support from other parts of the country," he said.
Political analyst Prof Gitile Naituli said the debate over splitting Mt Kenya was driven more by political interests than by the region's welfare, warning that any division would undermine the region's bargaining power and weaken DP Kindiki's own political prospects.
“One person who should be worried about this debate is Prof Kindiki. He should not entertain anyone talking about division if he hopes to inherit his boss in 2032. If you want to contest any national seat in Kenya, nobody will take you seriously if you have not consolidated your base,” Prof Naituli told the Nation.
He argued that a divided Mt Kenya would make it harder for Prof Kindiki to build the support needed for a future presidential bid, noting that the region's eastern and western zones are socially, economically and politically intertwined.
“The split will be to Kindiki's disadvantage because he will need votes from the west. In any case, people from the west and east are so intertwined that separating them is impossible,” he said.
