A billboard featuring photographs of President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi stands in Karatina Town on March 25, 2025, welcoming the President to the Mt. Kenya region.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is facing a critical political test as President William Ruto prepares for a high-stakes tour of the Mt Kenya region beginning Tuesday, April 1.
The head of Presidential Communication Service, Munyori Buku, said that President Ruto is expected to kick off his Mt Kenya tour in Laikipia on Tuesday.
“He will begin the development trip on Tuesday, April 1, in Laikipia and crisscross the region all through to Saturday, April 5,” Mr Buku said.
The visit, seen as a strategic move to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 elections, comes amid rising political tensions and shifting allegiances within the vote-rich region.
Prof Kindiki has intensified his presence in the region over the past few days, rolling out development projects in preparation for the President’s tour.
Even though he has maintained that the trip is purely on development, political pundits also see it as an avenue to try to regain Kenya Kwanza’s lost glory in the region.
“Next week, the President will be here in Mt Kenya. And he is not coming to do politics. He is coming to open markets, ensure the expansion of electricity connection programmes, inspect road and irrigation and other ongoing projects in the region,” the DP said when he inspected ongoing government-funded projects in Murang’a County on Thursday.
He said the President had sent him to ensure the projects are completed faster for the people to benefit from them.
“This is the work the government does. Politics is for those in the opposition. Our work is to serve the people through important projects,” Prof Kindiki said, in a jibe directed at the opposition.
His predecessor Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached in October last year, has been involved in overdrive campaigns against Dr Ruto in the region and is currently putting up a broad-based opposition to clip the president's and Prof Kindiki’s wings in the area.
He has vowed to launch his own party in May to wrestle the region from President Ruto’s UDA grip.
Government critic
But Prof Kindiki is said to be keen to rally the region’s populace and leaders to the president’s fold and is linked to the recent appointment of Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku to the Cabinet.
President Ruto on Wednesday nominated Mr Ruku as the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development, replacing Mr Justin Muturi who had turned a government critic from within.
At the time of his appointment, Mr Ruku was in the company of Prof Kindiki for an inspection tour of Kanyuambora irrigation water project in Mbeere North.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (right) and Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku in his constituency on March 26, 2025.
Mr Ruku had last year led at least 48 elected leaders from Mt Kenya region in endorsing Prof Kindiki as the region’s spokesperson against Mr Gachagua who was by then still serving as the DP.
But it is the looming by-election in the constituency that will be a litmus test for Prof Kindiki.
Mr Gachagua will likely field his candidate against the UDA flagbearer, and pundits say the poll will provide a good opportunity for Prof Kindiki to assert his authority should his side vanquish his predecessor’s.
Political analysts, however, say Prof Kindiki’s development approach to the region’s politics could endear him to the people, and keep Mr Gachagua’s influence in check.
“While the impeachment of Mr Gachagua has rocked President Ruto’s Mt Kenya infrastructure, the President still has time to recalibrate. Mr Gachagua has used misinformation and disinformation to compromise President Ruto’s Mt Kenya political infrastructure.”
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (centre) inspecting the 705-unit Karanjee Affordable Housing Project in Limuru Town, Kiambu County.
“DP Kindiki will thus need to develop a strategic narrative to counter Gachagua’s all-out political war on President Ruto,” argues political analyst Dismas Mokua.
He pointed out that Mr Gachagua’s sole mission is to lock out President Ruto from Mt Kenya, hence DP Kindiki “must therefore craft and execute a strategy that will not only call out Gachagua’s lies but also grow and develop President Ruto’s political capital.”
The DP, Mr Mokua adds, must earn peer and colleagues respect by positioning himself as a first among equals in Mt Kenya.
“DP Kindiki can use the trip to position himself if he plays a central role in Mt Kenya strategy development and execution. He cannot afford to play second fiddle to any Mt Kenya politician by virtue of his office.”
As one of the key figures from Mt Kenya in Ruto’s administration, Prof Kindiki’s ability to navigate local political dynamics and solidify his influence will be closely scrutinised.
The tour is expected to serve as a barometer for the DP’s standing in the region, where Mr Gachagua and former president Uhuru Kenyatta have positioned themselves as the de facto political kingpin.
Analysts argue that Prof Kindiki’s performance and his role during this visit could determine whether he cements his status as Ruto’s key ally in the region or remains in Gachagua’s shadow.
Regional unity
Adding to the political intrigue is the recent fallout among Mt Kenya leaders, with a faction supporting Gachagua’s push for regional unity while another leans towards a more nationalistic approach, which Kindiki appears to favour.
The President’s visit is likely to expose these fault lines, with local leaders expected to weigh in on the debate over Mt Kenya’s political future.
How Kindiki positions himself in these discussions will be crucial to his long-term ambitions within Ruto’s administration.
Further complicating matters is the growing dissatisfaction among some Mt Kenya leaders over issues such as State jobs, economic hardships, and stalled projects.
The President will likely use the tour to address these grievances, but Kindiki’s role in articulating the government’s agenda and defending its policies will be pivotal.
On Monday, President Ruto held talks with governors from Mt Kenya region including Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi), Cecil Mbarire (Embu), Isaac Mutuma (Meru), Joshua Irungu (Laikipia) Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Kiarie Badilisha (Nyandarua), among other leaders to plan ahead of his tour.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, a close ally of Mr Gachagua, was conspicuously missing during the State House meeting.
Political meeting
Mr Kahiga confirmed to Weekly Review that he had been invited for the meeting, but could not make it because he was hosting the World Executive Scouts Committee.
He said he requested to have his deputy, Mr David Kinarire, represent him, but it was not granted.
Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, however, criticised Mr Kahiga for skipping the State House event, which he noted could have given him a good opportunity to articulate issues affecting the people of Nyeri.
“It was wrong for the Governor to skip the event because it was not a political meeting but a gathering to discuss the development agenda of Nyeri and other parts of Mt Kenya region,” Mr Wamumbi said.
DP Kindiki has already cautioned residents of Mt Kenya region not to be misled by politicians seeking selfish gains at the expense of the region’s development.
“National unity is a catalyst for economic and social transformation of our Country. People from the Mt. Kenya region are enterprising and can be found in all parts of the Country. We must not allow selfish and parochial interests to isolate Mt. Kenya region from other regions of the country,” he said.
Last week, Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Performance and Delivery Management, Mr Eliud Owalo led other senior government officials on a tour of Murang’a County to inspect various national government projects ahead of the visit by the President.
jjochieng@ke.nationmedia.com
