Mt. Kenya Leaders Endorse Kindiki as Regional Link, Snubbing Gachagua

In a stunning political move, leaders from the Mt. Kenya region and the Diaspora have thrown their weight behind Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki as their preferred link to the presidency, bypassing Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

This decision, made during the Mt. Kenya and Diaspora Parliamentary Leaders Forum on September 12, 2024, signals a significant shift in regional political alignments, raising questions about Gachagua’s influence and standing within the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Despite being the most senior government official from the region, Gachagua was conspicuously omitted from the list of those identified as pivotal to representing Mt. Kenya’s interests at the national level.

Instead, the forum, composed of over 30 elected leaders, rallied behind Kindiki, citing his role in coordinating government functions across the country.

“Our link to the National Government will be Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki, whose responsibilities include the coordination of National Government functions. We unanimously resolve that he will be our focal point,” the statement read, leaving Gachagua out of the equation.

This endorsement of Kindiki is seen as a direct challenge to Gachagua, who has long positioned himself as the de facto leader of Mt. Kenya and a key power broker in President William Ruto’s administration.

The leaders expressed frustrations over “high-octane politics” surrounding the region, accusing unnamed individuals of prioritizing “personal ambition” over the collective developmental needs of the people.

Political analysts suggest that this endorsement reflects deepening divisions within the Mt. Kenya leadership, with some viewing Gachagua’s confrontational style and focus on personal interests as a liability to regional unity and development efforts.

On the other hand, Kindiki, seen as more technocratic and less embroiled in political feuds, is gaining traction as a more palatable choice for those seeking a less divisive leadership approach.

“Gachagua’s absence from this endorsement is not just a political snub—it could be a signal that his grip on the region is weakening.

Leaders are clearly looking for someone who can deliver development rather than engage in endless political wars,” commented a senior political analyst.

The forum also lamented the lack of a clear avenue through which Mt. Kenya leaders could channel their priorities to the government, blaming political distractions for stalling critical legislative reforms and development projects.

They pledged to refocus their energies on advancing key regional projects, including the Guaranteed Minimum Returns for agricultural produce such as coffee, tea, and dairy products, and the completion of stalled infrastructure projects.

With the next general elections looming just over three years away, this strategic endorsement of Kindiki could further deepen the political realignments already at play within Mt. Kenya, leaving Gachagua in a precarious position.

The question remains: can Gachagua regain his foothold, or is this the beginning of a new political order in the region, with Kindiki emerging as the preferred link to State House? Only time will tell, but the message from Nyahururu is clear—Gachagua’s dominance is no longer uncontested.