DP Kindiki faces revolt in Central Kenya despite spirited efforts to regain UDA’s lost ground

The Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is walking a tight rope in his efforts to regain lost support for the ruling UDA Party in the hostile larger Central Kenya region despite dangling goodies in the restive region that has since fallen out with President William Ruto.

Pundits contend that Kindiki’s forays in his Mount Kenya backyard will also serve as his litmus test of his political popularity as the president’s led United Democratic Alliance grapples to counter impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who is also party leader of the Democratic Citizens Party (DCP), to who the vote rich region has shifted support for.

In particular, DP Kindiki has received a rather lukewarm reception in Embu and Kiambu despite making heart-winning onslaught targeting the people of Mount Kenya, popularly known as Murima, amid shifting political fortunes.

President Ruto was also booed during a past event in Embu even before the sacking of former Public Service former Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi who remained critical of government policies while he was still in office.

Insiders within UDA told The Informer Media Group that DP Kindiki is expected to stand in the gap after the fall-out between President Ruto with his former key Central Kenya region point men turned political foes notably Gachagua, Muturi and former Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi.

“Being the second in command in the Kenya Kwanza administration, we also expect to derive political capital from DP Kithure Kindiki including taming Gachagua’s political influence.” A senior Kenya Kwanza politician noted.

In his new charm offensive, the country’s second in command appears to be particularly wooing the Kikuyu populace to his side, from his speeches made during a series of public meetings in counties of the former Central Province.

Kindiki’s visits to the region have mainly concentrated on Kiambu County where he has so far attended public meetings dubbed “economic empowerment drives” in eight out of the twelve constituencies of this populous devolved unit, in less than a month.

In the highly publicised events, the DP is usually accompanied by area MPs who support President William Ruto’s government. He has so far gone to Kikuyu, Kiambaa, Juja, Gatundu North, Gatundu South, Kiambu Town, Lari and Limuru since the beginning of this month.

The DP has been sending an olive branch to voters from the region, assuring them that he is one of them, being a son of the Mountain himself. He has also been speaking kindly of retired President Kenyatta.

“Our people, we have been together since the time of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki then came Uhuru Kenyatta. Actually I have been Uhuru’s assistant for some time. ( Andu a nyumba, sisi ni kitu kimoja. Tumekuwa na nyinyi kwa mda mrefu sana tangu wakati wa Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki, alafu Uhuru Kenyatta. Mimi kwanza nimekuwa mtu wa mkono wa Uhuru),” said Kindiki when he addressed meetings at Kirenga Primary School in Lari constituency, Gatundu Stadium and Limuru in the span of one week.

Addressing residents of Limuru when he toured the local dairy processing plant on Thursday May 22, 2025, he said: “In fact I was one of the advocates who were defending the former President when he and President Ruto were falsely charged at the International Criminal Court. So is there anything wrong when I stand before you here?”

It is worth noting that Kindiki seems to be out to fill a void left since the acrimonious 2022 elections during which his predecessor Rigathi Gachagua who was Ruto’s running mate, utilized every opportunity and public appearance when addressing campaign meetings to demonize Uhuru who was at that time supporting ODM leader Raila Odinga of the Azimio Coalition.

“We appreciate our former leader Uhuru Kenyatta for what he did after taking over from Mzee Kibaki. He took the country forward and built the Standard Gauge Railway, the Kenol-Marua dual carriageway, Mau Mau roads and others,” Kindiki said.

This comes at a time when support for President Ruto’s administration and the UDA Party in particular in the Mountain, is believed to have shifted following the impeachment of Gachagua late last year which many in Central Kenya saw as persecution of their son who worked tirelessly to deliver 47 percent of the total votes cast to Ruto.

Kindiki is set to hold meetings in all the 12 constituencies of Kiambu County in the coming few weeks. This Sunday he is scheduled to go to Kabete and from there he will be visiting Ruiru, Thika and Githunguri constituencies.

Interestingly, Kiambu County Governor Kimani Wamatangi has never showed up in any of the past empowerment events where women and youth groups get funding from the government, raising eyebrows about his political alignment.

During all these activities so far held in Kiambu, Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a who has declared her intention to unseat Wamatangi in the 2027 elections, has been very visible.

Observers believe that Ng’ang’a, nicknamed ‘Mama Simba’, may be the gubernatorial candidate for the Kenya Kwanza administration, which may force the incumbent to quit UDA and join another political outfit.

Today, DP Kindiki hosted performing artists as part of efforts to consolidate support in the Mount Kenya region.

Kindiki is currently traversing the country under a large-scale empowerment campaign.

However, critics have raised concerns about his grip on the Mount Kenya vote bloc.

In what is seen as a strategic move to strengthen his influence, earlier today, Kindiki met with dozens of artists, including popular secular and gospel performers at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi.

Among those in attendance was celebrated Mugithi maestro Samidoh, whose real name is Samuel Muchoki Ndirangu.

Ben Githae of the popular ‘Uhuru Tano Tena’ hit of 2017 was also present.

“The creative industry is a multibillion-shilling business, and constant engagement with performing artists and all stakeholders is imperative in finding ways to support them through policy and protection of intellectual property rights,” Kindiki said.

“Had an early morning engagement with musicians and producers on how, as government, we can support their work and the industry as a whole,” he added in a post on his X platform.

While Kindiki did not explicitly state that the artists were from the Mount Kenya region, photos he shared showed familiar faces from the area.

Notably, the meeting was also attended by several MPs from the region, including Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika Town), John Njuguna Wanjiku (Kiambaa), Mburu Kahangara (Lari), Elijah Njoroge (Gatundu North), and Githua Wamacukuru (Kabete).

The meeting comes amid concerns within government circles that growing public discontent, particularly among youth, is being amplified by musicians and entertainers.

Some DJs and artists have been composing and playing songs critical of the government in nightclubs across Nairobi and the Mt Kenya region.

The creative sector is expected to play a key role in shaping the 2027 general election.

In the lead-up to the 2022 polls, most popular musicians from Mount Kenya aligned with then-presidential candidate William Ruto, while a few supported Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

Ruto notably capitalised on the viral hit Sipangwingwi, using it as a rallying cry for his “hustler” movement in defiance of what he termed the “deep state.”

The song’s lyrics, which reflected resistance to imposed authority, helped mobilise a youthful base that backed Ruto over then-President Uhuru Kenyatta’s preferred candidate, Raila Odinga.

Artists have long been key beneficiaries of Kenya’s vibrant political campaign culture, earning from political endorsements while gaining national visibility and performance opportunities.

Ahead of the 2022 elections, Ruto pledged to transform the creative economy if elected.

“We have a comprehensive plan to transform the creative industry and create jobs and opportunities for our talented youth,” he said during a meeting with artists on July 17, 2022, at his Karen residence.

“We urge the youth to support that plan by voting for Kenya Kwanza.”

During that engagement, Ruto hosted artists including Jeshi Jinga (of Shembeteng fame), Kartelo, Modesto, Iano Ranking, and Tana Legends Music Group.