Deputy President Kithure Kindiki addresses a public rally at Mwatate Town in Taita Taveta County on April 18, 2026.
A political scheme is emerging in which President William Ruto, in his search for a 2027 re-election strategy in the Mt Kenya region, is positioning Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as a potential 2032 succession bait.
This comes after the President’s once-solid support in the region where he garnered about 87 percent of votes in 2022 appears to have suffered a dent in 2024 following the impeachment of his then Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua.
The impeachment left the region disgruntled, prompting a political revolt that culminated in Mr Gachagua forming a new opposition formation, the Democracy for Citizens’ Party (DCP), which he now leads.
Mr Gachagua has since declared his intention to rally the Mountain against President Ruto’s re-election in 2027 forcing the President’s political camp to roll out a series of strategies aimed at containing dissent and stabilising waning support in the region.
It is within this context that Prof Kindiki, whom President Ruto appointed as Mr Gachagua’s replacement, is increasingly being seen as a possible 2032 succession figure. The perception being cultivated is that Mt Kenya could regain State House in 2032 after what some view as a loss of power in 2022.
The President, Prof Kindiki, and some of their close allies have, through their public statements, lent weight to this emerging narrative.
During a tour of Kisii County, President Ruto remarked that Mr Gachagua was impatient to be led.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (right) and his predecessor Rigathi Gachagua.
“If you are impatient to be led, you cannot be fit to be led,” he said, remarks that, when read alongside his repeated public praise for Prof Kindiki, have been interpreted as reinforcing a succession undertone.
On Monday, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi told Nation that Mt Kenya’s only realistic path back to State House is through President Ruto and Prof Kindiki.
“The President does not hide the fact that he is a creation of Mt Kenya. He would love to partner with the region now and into the future in uniting the country. Deputies who exercise patience, loyalty and diligence succeed, and Prof Kindiki is such a Deputy,” he said.
Prof Kindiki has also openly suggested that his loyalty to President Ruto is partly strategic.
“Sometimes it is not all about love… It is about what is at stake. President Ruto is like a pregnant dairy cow about to give birth… That pregnancy is me. If I stick around President Ruto, my ascent to higher office will be five years. If another person takes it in 2027, our wait will be longer,” he said.
His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from Mr Gachagua’s allies, who accuse him of engaging in succession politics aimed at destabilising emerging political formations outside the President’s camp.
According to political scientist Dr John Okumu, the unfolding rivalry between Prof Kindiki and Mr Gachagua reflects deeper succession calculations within President Ruto’s administration.
“It is understandable that Prof Kindiki and Mr Gachagua are locking horns around President Ruto’s re-election mathematics. A gain for either is a loss for the other. That is why there is so much tension between them,” he said.
Mr Okumu argues that Prof Kindiki’s positioning mirrors earlier political succession strategies, drawing parallels with former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2013 pact with then running mate William Ruto.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki addressing Meru County residents at his Irunduni home in Tharaka Nithi County, on July 30, 2025.
“The promise was aimed at solidifying support behind Mr Kenyatta for two terms. It was a political strategy since Mr Kenyatta later attempted to renegotiate the arrangement in 2022. It appears similar to what is happening now, where President Ruto is subtly elevating Prof Kindiki in succession calculations,” he said.
However, Mr Gachagua has dismissed such narratives, arguing that the President is attempting to revive a political script designed to restore Mt Kenya’s influence in national politics through controlled succession messaging.
Of the five Presidents who have served Kenya since independence, leaders from Mt Kenya have held power for about 35 years.
“That is why the President has been moving Prof Kindiki around, giving him visibility and encouraging him to operate across Mt Kenya and other regions, trying to craft a succession narrative that suggests he could succeed him,” Mr Gachagua said during a tour of Murang’a County.
Prof Kindiki has, in recent weeks, intensified his political engagements in Mt Kenya, Kisii, Kilifi, and Baringo counties, projecting the image of a deputy president on a national assignment.
President William Ruto and his deputy Prof Kithure Kindiki dance on the podium during the disbursement of Nyota business start-Up capital to 5,880 young entrepreneurs at Jomo Kenyatta Showground in Mombasa on February 6, 2026.
He has also criticised Gachagua, describing him as politically inconsistent and lacking structured engagement, while portraying himself and President Ruto as more organised and development-focused.
Political analyst Dr Malila Munywoki says Mt Kenya’s current political mood reflects a deep sense of loss following the exit from the presidency.
“Power, especially executive power, comes with immense influence. When lost, it creates a sense of political withdrawal. Mt Kenya appears to be grappling with that reality, but national dynamics have shifted,” he said.
Dr Munywoki added that President Ruto is unlikely to openly endorse any succession pact involving Prof Kindiki.
“It will be difficult for the President to publicly declare ‘Kumi yangu, kumi ya Kindiki’. That would alienate other regions and political formations within his broad-based arrangement,” he said.
Another analyst, Herman Manyora, also observes that the impeachment of Mr Gachagua backfired politically, reshaping Mt Kenya’s internal dynamics.
“Prof Kindiki brought stability to the Deputy Presidency but did not consolidate political numbers in the region. All actors are competing for Mt Kenya’s electoral strength, and the region itself appears determined to reclaim power,” he said.
Mr Manyora added that Mt Kenya’s current political mood is largely driven by emotion and perceived betrayal.
“There is a strong feeling of political betrayal. Many in the region already know who they will not vote for in 2027, even if they are still undecided on who they will support. The Mountain appears ready for political revenge,” he said.
According to him, President Ruto and Prof Kindiki face a complex and uncertain political environment in Mt Kenya.
“At the moment, the situation is not looking promising for them,” he said.
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