Kindiki: I’m no pushover, DP seat is mine

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Friday told Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) that he is no pushover and will work hard to defend his retention in the Number Two seat.

This came even as he lashed out at Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka and told him to forget the presidency.

“The seat of Deputy President is not vacant and the ODM should forget it,” said Prof Kindiki.

He spoke at Nembure Stadium in Embu County as he hosted 20,000 grassroots leaders from the region.

He told ODM that even in 2027, he will be the running mate of President William Ruto, who will be seeking a second term in office.

“I’m very tough and they can't dislodge me from my seat,” he said in reference to ODM leaders.

The clamour for the Deputy President’s seat has gained momentum in recent months, with several leaders in the broad-based government expressing interest.

Among those who have expressed interest in replacing Prof Kindiki are Dr Oginga, Cabinet Secretaries Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho, as well as National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

In Embu, Prof Kindiki expressed confidence that President Ruto will be re-elected in the 2027 General Election and told the opposition to brace themselves for a bruising political battle.

“I cannot allow our people to move out of government and into the opposition. Some of those telling us one term will not even be on the ballot. They want to bring us some people who have no track record, have not developed their regions, and are not known for development. We do not want guesswork. We know where we want to take this country,” he said.

Prof Kindiki challenged opposition leaders to account for their development record. He urged Embu residents not to be carried away by political slogans but to judge leaders by what they delivered when they held office.

Prof Kindiki said the Kenya Kwanza administration had made significant progress in all 47 counties since assuming office in 2022 and was ready to defend its record before the people.

“The level of development we have reached is not where we found things in 2022, when we came into office. There is work that has been done, and you can see it yourselves,” he said.

Kindiki said he was prepared to face residents and explain the Government’s record in agriculture, education, roads, health and other programmes affecting ordinary citizens.

“I am willing to face the people of Embu County and all Kenyans countrywide, face to face, and explain to them what this Government has done to transform the country and empower all citizens economically,” the DP said.

He challenged Government critics to present their own scorecards and explain what they achieved when they occupied public offices.

“Let them tell us what they did when they held big positions in the past. I can tell you, they have nothing to show,” he said.

DP Kindiki pointed to agriculture as one of the areas where the Government had delivered tangible gains, citing improved coffee and milk prices. He said coffee farmers were now receiving between Sh120 and Sh150 per kilogramme, while the price of milk had risen from Sh33 to Sh50 per litre.

He also cited falling fertiliser prices, saying the cost had dropped from Sh7,000 in 2022 to Sh3,500 and later Sh2,500, with a further Sh500 reduction bringing the price to Sh2,000.

On infrastructure, Prof Kindiki said more than 6,000 kilometres of roads had been returned to contractors nationally, with Embu allocated a 415-kilometre roads programme at a projected cost of Sh20 billion.

On health, he cited the Social Health Authority (SHA) and National Equipment Support Programme, saying Level Five, Four and Three hospitals were being equipped with modern diagnostic and treatment equipment.

“Disease does not discriminate. Anyone can become sick. A rich person can become sick, and so can a poor person. We want to ensure that no Kenyan is disadvantaged simply because they have become ill,” he said.

The grassroots leaders drawn from all corners of Embu told off Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua and told him to leave Kindiki alone.

They accused Gachagua of going around the country undermining and humiliating Prof Kindiki, who is the kingpin of Mt Kenya.

Led by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, the grassroots leaders demanded that Gachagua respect Prof Kindiki.

The leaders vowed that they would not allow Gachagua to continue belittling Kindiki.

“We have our God-given Deputy President and Gachagua should stop talking ill about him,” said Ms Mbarire.

Mr Ruku called out Mr Gachagua for habitually insulting Kindiki for no good reason at all.

He reiterated that Mt Kenya must be split so that Kindiki can be respected.

“For Kindiki to be respected, the Mountain must be split into East and West,” he said.

The leaders also piled pressure on President William Ruto to ensure that Kindiki would be his running mate in the 2027 General Election.

“We have endorsed Kindiki as President Ruto’s running mate in 2027,” said Ms Mbarire.

The leaders said the DP seat belonged to Kindiki and nobody could take it away from him.

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