President William Ruto has praised his current deputy, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki, describing him as a calm, competent, and nationally focused leader, in stark contrast to his ousted former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking at Meru National Park during the launch of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Compensation Fund, Ruto lauded Kindiki for his unwavering support of government programs and his inclusive leadership style.
“Professor knows that he is not for the Meru people alone, he is for every Kenyan,” Ruto said, in what many perceived as a thinly veiled jab at Gachagua. He emphasized that Kindiki’s composed demeanor and grasp of government operations have helped streamline the administration’s agenda in key sectors like infrastructure, education, and agriculture.
“I’m very proud to have a deputy who understands government and what we are doing… and is supportive to the ministers and myself to make sure Kenya is going forward,” he added.
The comments come months after a dramatic political fallout between Ruto and Gachagua, which culminated in Gachagua’s impeachment. In a candid interview at the Sagana State Lodge earlier this year, Ruto criticized his former running mate for being quick-tempered, divisive, and disruptive within the government.
“At his stature as my deputy at the time, he was bothered by people in my office… Itumbi, for instance, is a blogger. Farouk is my personal assistant. He picked fights over trivial matters,” Ruto revealed.
The President also accused Gachagua of pushing a tribal agenda, warning that such politics had no place in Kenya’s future. “We have no time for tribalists and people who are incompetent… We are united as a people and Kenya is going to march forward as one united, indivisible country,” he declared in January 2025.
Ruto’s endorsement of Kindiki as a “brilliant individual who is not quick to anger” signals a new chapter in his administration, one he hopes will be marked by unity, competence, and national cohesion.
Written By Rodney Mbua
