Kindiki's uphill battle of uniting Mt Kenya

 Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during his swearing in ceremony at KICC, Nairobi. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Days after his swearing-in, a herculean task awaits Deputy President Kithure Kindiki: uniting the politically restive Mount Kenya region and restoring faith in the office of the vice presidency.

Observers believe the law professor faces a significant challenge in reversing the politics of exclusion that marked former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s tenure, whose style, some say, risked isolating the region from the rest of the country. Kindiki now faces the task of shifting that narrative.

In the Mount Kenya region, ordinary citizens and politicians alike hope Kindiki will prevent further divisions following Gachagua’s ouster. 

In Meru, expectations are high. For Winnie Mwende, in her early 20s, the deputy president should focus on uniting Mt Kenya East and West—the latter being Gachagua’s home turf.

“I have friends from Kirinyaga and other counties in Mount Kenya, and I don’t want politics to separate us,” says Mwende, who hails from Kirogine in Meru County. “I’m counting on Prof. Kindiki to ensure the mountain remains intact.”

Mwende adds, “I’ve heard the DP speak, and I think he can unite both the country and Mt Kenya. We need unity to develop as a country.”

For Kindiki, uniting Mt Kenya East and West is indeed a daunting task. However, MPs from Meru and prominent leaders from Mt Kenya West are confident in Kindiki’s capacity to bring people together.

Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi emphasizes that unity is a national goal, saying, “Kindiki has the capacity to unite the entire country, not just Mt Kenya East and West. Our focus shouldn’t be solely on the mountain.”

Meanwhile, Gachagua’s fallout with President Ruto has left some in Mt Kenya West feeling discontented, with some residents and leaders hinting at withholding political support from Ruto, who garnered most of their votes in 2022.

Igembe North MP Julius Taitumu expresses hope that Kindiki can successfully unite the region, while Gideon Kimathi, economic advisor to the Meru County Government, says, “I have great faith that DP Kindiki has both the passion and capacity to unite Mt Kenya and the entire country behind President Ruto. He enjoys widespread goodwill, which will aid his mission.”

Former Central Imenti MP Gitobu Imanyara offers a different perspective, noting that Kindiki’s position could alienate Kikuyu support in favor of a Meru deputy president. “They may view him as Ruto’s tool to divide the Mt Kenya vote in 2027,” Imanyara observes, adding that “Ruto may not want a united Mt Kenya, so I don’t see Kindiki making much effort toward it.”

Igembe Central MP Dan Kiili feels strongly that Kindiki is up to the task, calling him “the most level-headed leader of our time” and expressing confidence in his unifying potential.

Political analyst Oscar Mutugi highlights the challenge ahead, noting that Kindiki enters “a political minefield.” Mutugi explains, “The masses in Mt Kenya, including Mt Kenya East, may sympathise with Gachagua as a victim of political betrayal, similar to Ruto’s own journey. Kindiki must carefully balance his role as a national leader, not just a regional one.”

Mutugi adds that Kindiki’s preexisting goodwill with elected leaders in the region, as well as his strong relationship with President Ruto, could help lay a foundation for calm in the restive Mt Kenya region, though “Mt Kenya West may still be wary of the Ruto administration as 2027 approaches.”

Political analyst Prof. Gitile Naituli argues that unity in Mt Kenya isn’t the central issue, suggesting that economic challenges take priority. “The problem isn’t that Kindiki holds the job and Gachagua doesn’t; it’s the economy,” Naituli states. “If the economy improves, all Kenyans will feel the benefits, regardless of location.”