Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has rejected calls to politically divide the Mount Kenya region, setting up a public disagreement within President William Ruto’s administration over how to manage shifting political loyalties ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Prof Kindiki said the region must remain united, days after Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku pushed for greater political and economic focus for Mount Kenya East.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service for the Embu Anglican Diocese at St Mark’s Teachers College in Kigari, Embu County, the Deputy President said he would oppose any attempts to split communities that have shared historical and political ties.
“I don’t want our people to speak in different languages. We have done many things together, we have a long history, and there is nothing that can divide us. As the Deputy President, I will ensure that the Mountain remains united. At the moment, I’m the Deputy President, and I will make sure our communities walk together,” he said.
Prof Kindiki also urged residents of the region to continue supporting President Ruto’s re-election bid, arguing that the region stood a better chance of producing the country’s next President by remaining aligned with Kenya Kwanza.
“I want us to have an honest conversation with our people. After William Ruto, ni sisi. Ile team nyingine tuko number 20; tutafikiwa after 200 years,” he said.
The remarks came shortly after CS Ruku advocated for stronger recognition of Mount Kenya East, a position that has been interpreted by some as favouring a political separation between the eastern and western parts of the region.
However, Mr Ruku downplayed the perceived disagreement, saying his comments were focused on addressing local concerns rather than dividing the region.
“When I talk about splitting, I am looking at the local issues, and if I see anything wrong, I will spark up. The DP is right about uniting all Kenyans,” the CS said.
Ruku later maintained that Mount Kenya East had decided to remain within the Kenya Kwanza fold and would not be swayed by campaigns led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
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The debate over the region’s political direction intensified following the opposition’s victory in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, where DCP candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru defeated UDA’s Samuel Muchina Nyagah by a significant margin.
Allies of Mr Gachagua have described the outcome as evidence that President Ruto’s support in Mount Kenya has weakened, but Mr Ruku dismissed the interpretation, saying a single by-election cannot determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential contest.
“Gachagua is chest-thumping after the Ol Kalou by-election, claiming he controls the Mt Kenya vote. If Raila could only lose by a small margin when Mt Kenya did not support him, how does Gachagua expect to defeat President Ruto in 2027?” he posed.
He added that voters had the democratic right to make their choices, but argued that President Ruto could still secure victory through support from other regions.
“If the voters of Ol Kalou choose not to support President Ruto in 2027, that is their democratic right. President Ruto will still win with support from other parts of the country,” he said.
Political analyst Prof Gitile Naituli warned that attempts to divide Mount Kenya could weaken the region’s influence and hurt Prof Kindiki’s future political ambitions.
“One person who should be worried about this debate is Prof Kindiki. He should not entertain anyone talking about division if he hopes to succeed his boss in 2032. If you want to contest any national seat in Kenya, nobody will take you seriously if you have not consolidated your base,” Prof Naituli told the press.
He argued that the eastern and western parts of Mount Kenya remain closely connected socially, economically and politically, making separation difficult.
“The split will be to Kindiki’s disadvantage because he will need votes from the west. In any case, people from the west and east are so intertwined that separating them is impossible,” he said.
The disagreement highlights growing political calculations within Kenya Kwanza as leaders seek to secure regional support and shape alliances ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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