Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday returned to Kiambu County, using government-funded projects to rally support for President William Ruto’s re-election as he positions himself to retain the running-mate slot in the August 10, 2027 General Election.
Prof Kindiki has stepped up his political activities in the Mt Kenya region, seeking to strengthen his standing in a politically influential bloc where the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) faces growing competition from the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), led by impeached former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.
His renewed focus on Kiambu comes as he seeks to consolidate his support base and demonstrate his influence in a region that will be critical to the 2027 presidential contest.
The tours also come against the backdrop of an emerging contest for political leadership in Mt Kenya, with Prof Kindiki and Mr Gachagua seeking to position themselves as influential voices in the region.
Last week, the Deputy President toured Kiambu for two consecutive days before returning on Wednesday, underscoring the county’s importance in the administration’s efforts to rebuild UDA’s political support in Mt Kenya.
In the 2022 presidential election, Kiambu was a significant source of votes for the UDA ticket of Dr Ruto and Mr Gachagua, who secured substantial support in the county. The two leaders have since fallen out, turning the region into a battleground for competing political loyalties ahead of the next election.
Prof Kindiki is also seeking to build on his recent coronation by Mt Kenya elders as the region’s political spokesman.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki addresses residents at a public engagement rally at Karura Ka Nyungu Shopping Centre after inspecting the construction of Karura Ka Nyungu TTI and launching the tarmacking of the Karura Ka Nyungu-Muthure Road in Kabete Constituency, Kiambu County.
The ceremony held at the historic Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County last month provided him with a platform to assert his leadership credentials as political competition in the region intensifies.
During Wednesday’s tour of Kabete, Kiambu town and Ruiru, Prof Kindiki highlighted the government’s investment in education, technical training, housing and infrastructure, presenting the projects as evidence of the administration’s record and its development agenda.
He said the education budget had risen from Sh500 billion in 2022 to Sh784 billion in the current financial year. He also said the government had employed 100,000 teachers and that enrolment in technical institutions had increased from 297,000 to 718,000 students in 2024.
The Deputy President announced that the Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology had been upgraded to Kiambu National Polytechnic, promising the construction of student hostels with a capacity of 1,780 beds at a cost of Sh672 million.
“We are working to eliminate substandard housing in Kenya. That is why we introduced the Affordable Housing Programme and the construction of modern markets to transform our country. You can see the transformation that has taken place over the last two years through the use of housing funds,” he said.
The emphasis on development projects provides Prof Kindiki with a way to sell the administration’s record while seeking to strengthen UDA’s appeal in a region where the party faces a challenge from Mr Gachagua’s DCP.
At the same time, Prof Kindiki cautioned against divisive politics, warning leaders against using young people to disrupt opponents’ meetings or engaging in violence as competition for political positions gathers pace.
“Let us abandon insults and violence and compete on the basis of intelligence, ideas and policies, rather than engaging in foolish contests that involve destroying the property of innocent people and misusing young people. I appeal to all of us to maintain unity. I also urge my fellow leaders seeking political positions not to recruit young people to disrupt their opponents’ meetings,” he said.
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