Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday held a high-level consultative meeting with Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Muriithi, as political tensions within the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) continue to simmer in Embu County.
The meeting, convened in Embu, focused on the status of national government projects and key interventions aimed at safeguarding agricultural value chains, particularly tea, coffee, macadamia, and cathus edulis (mũgũũka). In a statement following the talks, DP Kindiki emphasized the importance of aligning national and county priorities to boost agricultural livelihoods, describing Embu as “a key player in national production chains.”
The engagement followed a similar session on Tuesday between Kindiki and Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi, alongside Members of Parliament from the region. Notably absent from that earlier meeting was Governor Mbarire, whose aides claimed she had not been informed of the Deputy President’s itinerary, a development seen as reflective of growing internal discord.
The backdrop to these meetings is a deepening political fallout within UDA. Governor Mbarire, who also serves as the party’s national chairperson, has accused unnamed party operatives of undermining her leadership by orchestrating secret political meetings in the county without her involvement. During Madaraka Day celebrations at Makima Primary School, the governor launched a scathing attack on what she termed as “outsiders from Nairobi” plotting to destabilize her administration.
“There are leaders holding night meetings in Embu to plan local politics without involving elected officials. I will not tolerate sabotage,” Mbarire warned, vowing to expose those behind the alleged scheme if the interference continues.
While DP Kindiki has refrained from directly addressing Mbarire’s accusations, the political rift between the two dates back to January, when he publicly questioned her leadership following an incident in which President William Ruto was heckled during a visit to the county. The rebuke, seen by many as a sign of internal power struggles, strained relations between the two senior UDA figures.
Wednesday’s meeting between Mbarire and Kindiki has sparked speculation over possible reconciliation efforts within the party, though no official resolution was announced.
As Embu remains a strategic county in the national political matrix, observers note that healing the rift between Mbarire and the national leadership will be crucial ahead of future party activities and development planning.
Written By Rodney Mbua
