Kindiki ticket could cost Ruto Mt Kenya — Ndia MP Kariuki warns

President William Ruto has been warned that retaining Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as his running mate could complicate his 2027 re-election bid, with Ndia Member of Parliament (MP) George Kariuki declaring that the Mt Kenya vote could hinge on who occupies the deputy president slot.

In one of the most direct warnings yet over the succession battle within the president’s camp, Kariuki said Ruto could still secure support from Mt Kenya but cautioned that the choice of running mate would be critical to his prospects in the region.

“It will be difficult, let me not mince words, but it will be difficult for him to be re-elected. Mt. Kenya can still vote for Ruto, but it depends on the running mate slot. He should not choose someone who is difficult to sell,” Kariuki said during a local media interview on Sunday.

The remarks thrust the contest for Ruto’s running mate into the political spotlight, coming as rival camps manoeuvre for influence in Mt Kenya and potential contenders begin openly positioning themselves for the powerful slot.

Kariuki, who is himself interested in becoming Ruto’s running mate, used the interview to draw a sharp contrast between Kindiki’s leadership and Ruto’s conduct when he served as Deputy President.

The Roads and Transport National Assembly Committee chairperson accused Kindiki of being inaccessible to political leaders and argued that the Deputy President had not built the level of political teamwork and grassroots engagement that, in his view, was required of someone occupying the position.

‘Ruto was easier to see’

Kariuki said accessibility was one of the qualities that distinguished Ruto when he was Deputy President, arguing that political leaders and members of his team could easily consult him on government and political strategy.

“We can’t have two William Rutos at a go, but there are a few basic things. When Ruto was the Deputy President, he was very accessible. Even today, if I want to see Ruto, it is easier to see him than his deputy,” he said.

He argued that accessibility was not simply about meeting politicians but was central to maintaining cohesion, coordination and a common political direction.

“There was teamwork; we used to know where we were and where we wanted to go, and we had direction because he was available and was the team leader. But the challenge we have today is the lack of that leadership and teamwork,” Kariuki said.

The MP claimed that Ruto, during his tenure as Deputy President, regularly consulted members of his political team, enabling them to understand the administration’s political strategy and direction.

He contrasted this with what he described as limited engagement under Kindiki, claiming that the current Deputy President had not maintained the same level of accessibility to elected leaders or the wider public.

Kariuki targets Kindiki’s grassroots reach

Kariuki also questioned Kindiki’s ability to establish a strong grassroots political network, suggesting that greater interaction with residents could have translated into larger crowds during the Deputy President’s public engagements.

His remarks come at a sensitive moment in the Mt Kenya political arena, where the question of who speaks for the region — and who should carry its political interests into 2027 — has increasingly become contested.

The running-mate debate has also opened a fresh battle among leaders seeking to position themselves as Ruto’s preferred successor to the deputy presidency.

Kariuki has emerged as one of the politicians openly campaigning for consideration, placing his criticism of Kindiki against the backdrop of his own interest in the position.

The Mt Kenya running-mate battle

The controversy comes amid growing political activity in the region as leaders seek to shape the 2027 equation and establish who will wield influence over Mt Kenya’s voting bloc.

Kindiki has increasingly featured prominently in the president’s political calculations, while other leaders have begun publicly or privately positioning themselves for the deputy presidency.