Kenya: Kindiki Fires Back At Gachagua in Blistering Response to Voice Jibes

What the report says

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has escalated his public feud with former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, responding sharply to repeated jibes about his voice and signaling that he intends to challenge Gachagua’s influence in Kenya’s Mount Kenya region. The comments, reported by Capital FM and carried by AllAfrica, come as political positioning intensifies ahead of the 2027 general election.

In the exchange, Kindiki accused Gachagua of having little to contribute to national debate and revisited Gachagua’s past roles in government and public service, describing his record as underwhelming. He also rejected claims that he interfered with Gachagua’s efforts to address alcohol-related problems in Mount Kenya while serving as Interior Cabinet Secretary, saying his focus at the time was on security issues.

The dispute is part of a broader contest over who speaks for Mount Kenya politics. Gachagua was impeached and removed from office in 2024 and later formed the Democracy for the Citizens Party, while Kindiki has been presenting himself as a unifying figure for Mount Kenya East and West. That approach contrasts with other calls, including from some allies of Kindiki, for a more segmented regional political structure.

The latest remarks suggest the rivalry between the two former colleagues is becoming increasingly personal and politically consequential, with both men seeking to shape the region’s alliances and leadership ahead of 2027.