DP Kindiki Reveals How He Is Being Pushed To Fight Ruto

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has revealed how some high-profile individuals had been approaching him, intending to manipulate him to oppose President William Ruto.

Speaking at Ng’arachi Comprehensive School in Laikipia County on Tuesday, April 1, during the commencement of Ruto’s tour of the Mt Kenya region, Kindiki recalled being questioned on why he could not fight the President in the wake of controversial proposals and policies implemented by his government.

The former Interior Cabinet Secretary disclosed that he was frequently pressured to provoke conflict and challenge President Ruto on various issues affecting Kenyans, a style his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, was accused of.

Criticizing unnamed individuals, the deputy president questioned the intention behind such advice but affirmed his commitment to working closely with Ruto despite the criticism.

There are people who have started doubting me, that you don’t look like fighting the President, since when did the Deputy President’s role become fighting the President?- DP Kithure Kindiki pic.twitter.com/7oywOXAa1B — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) April 1, 2025

Kindiki also emphasized that his primary duty as Ruto’s deputy was to support and defend the president while ensuring that the concerns of Kenyans were addressed.

The former Tharaka Nithi Senator further stated that it was the responsibility of opposition leaders to oversee the government and hold the administration accountable to the people.

“There are people who have begun advising me, questioning why I am reluctant to fight the president. Since when did the deputy president fight with the head of state?” Kindiki questioned.

“I am not in opposition; the work of keeping the government accountable is for those who are outside the government. My job is to support and defend the president."

Kindiki's sentiments came hours after President Ruto, under pressure from journalists during a media interview at Sagana State Lodge, revealed behind-the-scenes events that led to lawmakers in Parliament resorting to impeach Gachagua.

The Head of State on Monday, March 31, accused the former second-in-command of clashing with the lawmakers in the National Assembly instead of helping him to serve the people of Kenya, as they were both elected to do.

"I’m the one who nominated Rigathi Gachagua with my one vote. After the elections, we started working, three things came out. The first, the issue of cases everyday. I asked him ‘you are a Deputy President, what is the reason for clashing with blogger Dennis Itumbi?’ The office PA, the young men of Ndindi Nyoro, Kimani Ichung’wah, I asked him what the reason was for these petty fights?" he posed.

"I told him (Rigathi Gachagua), let us work for Kenyans and leave these petty cases alone. There he was, starting fights with MPs who moved to impeach him in Parliament. ‘Before December, if you don’t go down on your knees for me, you’ll go home.' The MPs said that by December, we will deal with him. He was the one who started fighting with the MPs."

At the peak of the feud between the President and his deputy, their allied Members of Parliament also clashed, with a faction within the Kenya Kwanza government initiating efforts to impeach the DP—an action Ruto claimed he attempted to prevent twice.

Following the complete breakdown of their relationship, Ruto alleged that Gachagua threatened to make him a one-term president. According to Ruto, these threats further escalated tensions, intensifying the rivalry between Kenya Kwanza MPs and Gachagua's supporters in Parliament.

"Gachagua told me that I would be a one-term President if I did not meet certain conditions. He asked for Ksh 10 billion to talk to the Mt Kenya region,'' Ruto claimed, adding "I told him I would not do it. I told him if it's one term, it's okay if you're the one to decide. So the MPs started a war."