Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has told off his predecessor Rigathi Gachagua and his allies over comments that they would ensure President William Ruto becomes a one-term President, saying it would not be easy.
On Monday during the launch of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) headquarters in Nairobi, Mr Gachagua said he would form a formidable political force and beat Dr Ruto on the ballot in 2027.
But while addressing a delegation from his Tharaka Nithi backyard at his official residence in Karen on Wednesday, Prof Kindiki wondered why Mr Gachagua’s only motivation was to remove President Ruto and not to serve Kenyans.
The DP scoffed at Mr Gachagua and his allies for thinking they would remove the president easily, saying “it is going to be tough”.
“Don't threaten us with a one-term Presidency…I saw some guys yesterday saying how their singular motivation is to make William Ruto a one-term President. Really? And then? How can that be your motivation as a leader? President William Ruto, by the grace of God, is among the five Kenyans who have been privileged to occupy the highest office in the land,” Prof Kindiki said.
The DP however added that the President was not worried about being a one-term President, saying his objective was to serve Kenyans and transform their lives.
Prof Kindiki enumerated Dr Ruto’s key projects including Universal Health Coverage that are being implemented by the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), saying the programme may not be popular at the moment due to challenges in its initial stages of implementation.
He equated Dr Ruto’s first two years in office during which he has faced serious opposition, to the late President Mwai Kibaki’s first term when he was defeated in the 2005 Referendum and just like President Ruto, fired his entire Cabinet.
“Former President Mwai Kibaki faced the most difficult times in his first term and became unpopular. He dissolved his cabinet and lost a referendum, yet he remains the most consequential former president. President William Samoei Ruto is facing the same challenges, and he has remained steadfast in his mission to transform Kenya,” Prof Kindiki said.
The DP went on: “Even if Dr Ruto doesn't get a second term, but will have transformed the lives of our people in health, economy, education, housing, and job creation for our young people, he will have achieved his mission. Don't threaten us with a one-term presidency. That is cheap.”
Prof Kindiki also told his detractors in the Mt Kenya region to brace for a fight, saying he was ready to kick off meetings in the region that would win back the people to President Ruto’s camp.
He announced that on Saturday, he would be back in Embu where President Ruto was heckled in November last year, where he will address “a big meeting of 20,000 people” and told leaders to ensure it was peaceful.
There have been murmurs in the mountain that he has been avoiding meetings in the region so that he is not perceived as one championing the interests of the region, in the same manner as his predecessor.
One of the grounds for the impeachment of Mr Gachagua in October 2024 was his constant clamour for the interests of the region.
Recently while addressing mourners during the burial of Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza’s brother, Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga told Prof Kindiki to go back to his people “without fear” since he replaced Mr Gachagua as “the son of the mountain” and told him not to allow people to “push him around”.
However, Prof Kindiki said “those advising me to oppose the President like some other character did are addressing the wrong person. I know my job and I am very focused on it…”
“Who said the work of a Deputy President is to fight the President? How? The work of a Deputy President is to assist the President to deliver development and economic transformation to the people of Kenya,” Prof Kindiki said.
The DP said he was ready for Mt Kenya visits starting with the Embu forum, and cautioned politicians who were planning to shout him down.
In comments directed to Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi who hails from the area, the DP told the CS to quit or desist from opposing the government from within.
On January 3 when he attended the funeral of former Embu senator Lenny Kivuti’s son, Mr Muturi was forced to abandon reading President Ruto’s message of condolence after he was heckled and later criticised the government over abductions of the Gen-Zs critical of the government.
“It cannot be that you are a Cabinet Secretary, flying a flag and opposing the Government and sabotaging it from within. It cannot work. You better leave, and join the opposition group to oppose the President. You cannot be in and out at the same time,” said Prof Kindiki.
The Tharaka Nithi delegation was led by governor Muthomi Njuki who was companied by the three MPs in the county – Patrick Munene (Chuka/Igambang’gombe), Gitonga Murugara (Tharaka) and Kereke Mbiuki (Maara) – as well as Senator Gataya Mwenda and Woman Rep Susan Ngugi.
Mr Njuki called for unity among leaders in the region, saying that was the only way to realize development.
