Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and leaders allied to him have pushed back against growing debate over the 2027 deputy president slot, urging restraint in political rhetoric even as the DP appealed for support for UDA candidates in Thursday’s by-elections.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and a section of MPs from the Mt. Kenya East region dismissed what they termed persistent and provocative claims by ODM leader Dr. Oburu Oginga over the deputy president’s position, insisting the seat is not vacant.
Ruku said President William Ruto and Kindiki were working well and focused on development, arguing there was no need for attempts to “fix” what he described as a functional working relationship.
“President William Ruto and his Deputy President Kithure Kindiki are working well and focused on the development of our country. If it is working, don’t fix it,” Ruku said.
He added that even within the broad-based government, parties must work with mutual respect.
“Even if we are in the broad-based government, we must work with respect and desist from annoying each other unnecessarily,” he said, adding that leaders from the region would rally behind Kindiki.
Kindiki, on his part, called on the political class to tone down what he described as “fierce political heat” being generated by the ongoing debate, saying the country should not be dragged into early political contests.
“I want to ask all of us, especially the political class, to tone down the fierce political heat that is being generated by the ongoing debate. There is no need to worry,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President also projected confidence in his political standing, saying he would engage the debate at the right time.
“We are the masters of this political game. At the right time, I will play our cards properly. I have no record of losing any political contest,” he said.
At the same time, Kindiki appealed to voters in areas headed to by-elections on Thursday to back candidates from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), saying the party’s aspirants had run peaceful campaigns.
“I want to appeal to all the voters in the areas where we have by-elections on Thursday this week to vote for UDA candidates. Our candidates have conducted peaceful and issue-based campaigns,” he said.
The remarks come amid heightened political activity and renewed debate over power-sharing within the broad-based arrangement, after Oburu recently signalled ODM would be willing to settle for the deputy president slot in anticipated talks with UDA.
