Deputy President Kithure Kindiki addressing journalists at Harambee House Annex in Nairobi on November 7, 2024.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has been missing at several public events attended by President William Ruto.
Unlike his predecessor Rigathi Gachagua who was visible at almost all presidential functions, Prof Kindiki appears to have chosen a different path of holding his parallel events.
Since assuming office on November 1, the second-in-command has accompanied the president to only one public event; the installation of Embu’s Catholic bishop, Peter Kimani.
On Friday the DP was absent when his boss attended two functions in Machakos and Makueni counties, a graduation ceremony at Scott Christian University and the launch of Pan-African Greentech Hub – Timbuktoo at Konza Technopolis.
A post on the DP’s X account indicated that he was in Rift Valley where he had a late-night meeting with regional leaders on the eve of the Great Chepsaita Cross Country that he officiated on Saturday.
On Thursday when the President toured Kilifi County to preside over an International Investment Conference, Prof Kindiki was attending the 93rd Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) graduation ceremony at the Kasarani Sports Complex, Nairobi.
Own brand of politics
US-based university lecturer and political analyst Prof David Monda observes that Prof Kindiki could be seeking to establish his own brand of politics away from his boss.
“Kindiki wants to build his own name brand. To be seen as his own man,” said Prof Monda.
He also observed the move as a possible strategy to deal with the current political hostility facing Kenya Kwanza administration, especially from Mt Kenya, following the impeachment of his predecessor, Mr Gachagua, saying it is better “the ground is not exposed to a double dose of unpopular President and DP.”
While the President has been touring several counties launching development projects and addressing political gatherings, Prof Kindiki has been in Nairobi hosting high-level delegations including one from the East African Community secretariat led by the regional block’s Secretary General Ms Veronica Nduva.
“At the official Residence in Karen, Nairobi held discussions with Her Excellency Veronica Nduva, Secretary General of the East African Community, and her delegation on ways of strengthening and deepening trade and people-to-people ties within the EAC,” Kindiki wrote on his social media accounts on Monday, December 2, when the president was on a development tour of Taita Taveta County.
On the same day when President Ruto presided over a graduation ceremony at KWS training College in Manyani, Taita Taveta, his deputy was meeting a delegation from Germany at his Karen official residence.
On December 2, when Dr Ruto was addressing a rally in Njukini, Taita Taveta, his deputy was chairing the National and County Governments Honours Advisory Committee meeting in Nairobi that was attended by Defence CS Soipan Tuya, Felix Koskei (Head of Public Service), Dr Raymond Omollo (Principal Secretary, Internal Security and National Administration), Ummi Bashir (Principal Secretary, Culture, The Arts and Heritage), Noordin Haji (Director General, National Intelligence Service), Mary Mwiti (CEO, Council of Governors) and Clara Otieno (Registrar, High Court).
Last Sunday, the two attended church events in different counties. Dr Ruto attended an Interdenominational Church Service in Kimana, Kajiado County while Prof Kindiki chose to worship at Gospel Outreach Church, Kyuso, Mwingi North Constituency, Kitui County.
The deputy president was also absent when his boss met the leadership of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) party at State House Nairobi led by party leader and Mandera Senator Ali Roba on December 28.
Last week when Dr Ruto toured Kisumu on November 26 to open the Fourth African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network Investment Conference and later addressed a public gathering at Kondele, Prof Kindiki remained in Nairobi where he held a consultation meeting with the Ministry of Health leadership to “review the progress, challenges and solutions for the steadying the roll-out and full implementation of the new Social Health Insurance”.
Different script
Political analyst Dr Isaac Gichuki observes that Prof Kindiki has not been as consistently visible alongside President Ruto at public events compared to his predecessor Mr Gachagua.
“While Gachagua was more prominently involved in Ruto's public and political engagements, often accompanying him to major events and being very visible in the media, it also placed him in the spotlight, something the good Professor would be keen to avoid,” observes political analyst Dr Isaac Gichuki.
A keen look at DP’s dairy from his previous postings on social media accounts, Dr Gichuki opines that it’s possible that the second in command has been engaged in other responsibilities by his boss, or he has chosen to avoid the president’s events for personal reasons, to draw a different script from his predecessor and avoid the mistakes that led to his ouster.
Dr Gichuki adds: “Gachagua and Kindiki come from different political backgrounds, and this could also reflect the internal dynamics of the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition. Gachagua, with his eloquence, had often been more publicly aligned with Ruto’s political messaging and his presence at public events helped Ruto solidify his support in Mount Kenya but it also led to their fall out.”
Tom Maosa, a political analyst, says the absence of Kindiki at his boss’s official events could be a strategy adopted by the two leaders as the second in command doesn't have the same level of political presence in certain regions. He has a more technocratic background and is seen as more reserved in his public engagements. “This could explain why he is not seen as frequently at public rallies attended by his boss,” he says.
Political strategy
Mr Maosa says Gachagua had positioned himself strategically within the government, frequently engaging in media interviews, and public addresses, and attending various events alongside President Ruto and his high visibility was also part of his political strategy to maintain a strong public profile, particularly among the Mt Kenya voters.
“Kindiki, on the other hand, has a more low-key, reserved approach. While this might suggest a more passive role in the public eye, it could also be a strategic decision to focus on administrative and policy-oriented duties, rather than being a frequent fixture at political rallies and public appearances,” adds Mr Maosa, a commonwealth expert on political engagements.
Dr Gichuki says Gachagua had taken a lead role in political outreach, often attending rallies, handling political issues, and making appearances in key regions, especially in central Kenya and Rift Valley.
“But Kindiki’s mean public presence may be deliberate, possibly to avoid conflicting with President Ruto. There is also the possibility that Kindiki’s strength lies elsewhere, especially in drawing strategies to correct the government's mistakes.
His absence from rallies and public events attended by his boss might also signal that he is not as concerned with cultivating a personal political brand, which was seen as part of Gachagua’s approach.
