‘Which Office Is That?’ Kindiki Snubs Mt. Kenya Kingpin Role in Fiery Remarks

Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki has poured cold water on the idea of a Mt. Kenya political kingpin, calling it a “non-existent office” and shifting focus to national unity.

Speaking less than two months after assuming office as the country’s second-in-command, Kindiki dismissed discussions about the so-called kingpin role, asserting that his priority is to serve all Kenyans equally. His remarks come amid lingering debates over who commands Mt. Kenya’s political landscape, a position previously linked to former President Uhuru Kenyatta and later, Rigathi Gachagua.

When asked if he now stands as the undisputed Mt. Kenya kingpin, Kindiki scoffed, “Which office is that?” He made it clear during a media roundtable at his Karen residence that he views the position as irrelevant in governance.

Kindiki went on to address his previous endorsement by some Central region MPs while serving as Interior Cabinet Secretary. He attributed their support to frustrations caused by strained relationships with then-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

“Those MPs had expressed frustrations about getting their development agendas heard due to a breakdown in their working relationship with the former Deputy President. Since I was a Cabinet member at the time, I saw no problem relaying their concerns to the President,” he explained.

However, Kindiki clarified that his focus has now expanded beyond regional concerns to encompass the entire nation.

“The office I occupy now as Deputy President is an office of the Republic. The people from the area where I was born and raised have the same rights as those from the Coast, Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, and North Eastern to channel their needs through this office. This thing about the kingpin—I don’t understand it because there is no office like that,” he asserted.

Kindiki’s remarks underscore a deliberate shift from tribal politics to a broader national focus, signaling a departure from the traditional Mt. Kenya kingpin narrative. As the region’s politics continue to evolve, the debate over who will step into the kingpin role remains open, leaving space for new contenders to emerge.

Article By Suzy Nyongesa.