President William Ruto has opened up on why he is proud to
have Kithure Kindiki as his deputy.
Speaking in Meru on Monday, Ruto said it is because Kindiki
understands what government is and how it works.
The Head of State praised the Deputy President’s
understanding of how to support state programs ranging from infrastructure to
education and health, among others.
Ruto said Kindiki has been very supportive, not only to him
but also to Cabinet Secretaries in delivering on their mandates.
The President insisted that it is through such people that
the country develops.
“I want to thank you for giving me Kithure Kindiki. Now I
have a deputy. He understands roads, knows electricity and the SHA programme,
he is a righteous man and that is how we are going to change Kenya. He is
helping me push the work in Kenya, you have seen him in many places,” Ruto said.
“I am very proud that I have a deputy who understands
government. Who understands what we are doing in Agriculture, Infrastructure,
Education, and Health and is supportive to the ministers and to me to make sure
that Kenya is going forward,” he said.
He added that Kindiki also understands that by holding the office of the Deputy President, one does not belong to one community but to the
entire country.
“Si mtu wa kisirani,
hasira, chuki na ukabila, ni mtu anaelewa Deputy President si mtu wa Meru ni wa Republic of Kenya, that is the man I have.”
Kindiki became the country’s third Deputy President in
December 2024, following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua.
He previously served as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior,
one of the most powerful ministries in the republic.
During his swearing-in, Ruto said he had become a lone voice
in government, and he wanted Kindiki to help him amplify what the government was
doing.
The President insisted that Kindiki is intelligent and that
he has full confidence in his abilities.
He added that Kindiki could help improve areas where he had
missed in the two years he had been in office.
“I need your intellect to help me and to help members of our
cabinet to profile the things we are doing, to speak to the things that we are
doing, I have almost become a lonely voice in the executive, especially in the
presidency, speaking about our projects, speaking about our programs, elaborating
on what we are doing,” Ruto said.