DP Kindiki vows to floor Gachagua in Mt Kenya

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Deputy President Kithure Kindiki says he will vanquish his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, in the heightening political contest for control of the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Both Prof Kindiki and Mr Gachagua claim to have a firm grip on the vote-rich region, taunting each other for a mother of all political fights next year.

While Mr Gachagua has vowed to lock out President William Ruto from the Mountain as the country gears towards the election, his rival, Prof Kindiki, is working round the clock to avert being outsmarted by the opposition.

The only converging point for the two bitter rivals is the clamour to unite the Mountain in their favour.

On Saturday, DP Kindiki continued his efforts to consolidate the Mt Kenya East political base and defend the government's track record by hosting more than 20,000 grassroots leaders from Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, Embu and Isiolo counties.

The meeting at Kinoru Stadium comprised governors, senators and MPs, village elders, Community Health Promoters, former councillors, and former and current MCAs.

It came a day after the Deputy President met 15,000 UDA polling centre officials, whom he charged to act as the ruling party's ambassadors.

DP Kindiki vowed to wipe out the opposition's influence in the year towards the General Election, terming his mobilisation skills superior to Gachagua's.

"The opposition should not dare mess with me. Gachagua has been having an easy time in the Mountain because we were busy working as they campaigned. Let him know that I am a lethal striker in political campaigns. I have never campaigned for any President in Mt Kenya and failed to win. When we start the campaigns, votes will be pouring into the President's ballot. Regardless of the Ol Kalou outcome, we will floor the opposition in 2027," Prof Kindiki said.

While dismissing the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua as a paper tiger, Prof Kindiki dared him to a face-off.

"Let us meet face to face and contend man to man to distinguish between the genuine leader and the fake one. Those who have been bragging around are just paper tigers. President Ruto and I are well prepared for them. They have spread enough lies," Prof Kindiki said.

The meetings with grassroots leaders, he said, are meant to prepare an army of government supporters who are well-versed in President Ruto's track record.

"The difference between us and those in the opposition will be seen when Kenyans demand each leader's track record. Their only record is calling us nicknames. My friend, your days are numbered," Prof Kindiki said.

The Deputy President enumerated the Kenya Kwanza administration's four-year track record, urging enhanced sensitisation of Kenyans.

"The meeting is meant to update grassroots leaders about the implementation of the Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda. We want you to become informed government ambassadors in the grassroots. If the people are not informed about what we have done, they will be easily misled by the opposition," he warned.

Prof Kindiki told the gathering that President Ruto had impacted almost all sectors of the economy through subsidies in agriculture, employment of more than 100,000 teachers, stabilisation of the shilling against the dollar, lowering prices of flour, among others.

"The tycoons who are speaking against this government do not appreciate the work we have done in agriculture. Yet, the subsidies mean a lot for the common mwananchi. The price of raw milk has increased under this administration and we have transformed healthcare through the Social Health Authority," he said.

In sports, the DP said the Kenya Kwanza administration was building Kenya's second international stadium since the 1970s. Besides Talanta Stadium, he said 33 more stadiums are under construction across the country.

DP Kindiki also rallied residents to support a recent declaration by councils of elders to unite the Mt Kenya region behind the government.

"Mt Kenya is one politically, socially, economically, as well as culturally. Only a few people want to divide us. Mt Kenya East councils of elders have committed to start talks with Mt Kenya West elders and we await their direction," Prof Kindiki said.

Governors Cecily Mbarire (Embu), Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka-Nithi), and Isaac Mutuma (Meru) vowed to join the Deputy President in rallying the Mt Kenya region behind President Ruto.

"It is time for our neighbours in the west to show whether they can give back the good we have done to them over the years. We must reject any leader who comes here to insult Prof Kindiki.

"We will not be afraid of showing our support for this government," Ms Mbarire said.

Governor Njuki said they would defend the Deputy President's seat by helping consolidate the vote-rich region in support of President Ruto.

"We wish to remind our friends in ODM of the saying that: 'If it is working, do not change it.' It is our position that Kindiki should remain Deputy President beyond 2027," Governor Njuki said.

Earlier, a preachers' lobby in Meru vowed to deplatform politicians who champion the political split of the Mt Kenya region voting bloc, terming it politics of hate.

The Meru Clergy Forum, which expressed support for Prof Kindiki, also called on all churches in the country to block politicians using goons and inciting violence as the country gears towards the 2027 General Election.

"Political competition should never become an excuse for violence, hatred and destruction. Peace must be protected by all citizens," Meru Clergy Forum chairman Bishop Peter Imuru said.

Reporting originally appeared via Nation Africa. Read the full source for additional context.