DP position is not vacant, fully occupied - Kindiki says

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said his office is not vacant, affirming full focus to fully discharge his duties as the occupant of the nation’s second most powerful office.

Prof. Kindiki dismissed those eyeing the position saying he is not deterred by the attempts as he is working hard to serve all Kenyans.

“Those who are after a seat should know the position of the Deputy President is not vacant. Someone is already occupying it and he is fully on it on the behalf of the people of Kenya,” he noted.

Speaking on Saturday when he attended a meeting of over 30, 000 elders from Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Kirinyaga and Isiolo counties at Nembure Grounds in Manyatta Constituency, Embu County, the DP assured the elders that as the second-in-command he is working harder to ensure President Ruto and the government succeeds.

“I will not let you down. Despite what some people throw at me, I will not fail you, I will do my work well. I will make you proud,” Prof. Kindiki stated.

During the extraordinary meeting, the elders comprising officials and members of Njuri Ncheke (Meru), Nyaangi Ndiriri (Mbeere), Kiama Kia Muembu (Embu) and Mwea Council of Elders issued a declaration demanding respect for the Deputy President citing his political seniority in government and maturity in the push for unity in Mt Kenya region and the country.

In a historic resolution, the over 30, 000 elders said Prof. Kindiki as the second-in-command deserves to be respected by all including leaders from Mt. Kenya West.

“For decades, the people of Mt. Kenya East have stood firmly with leaders from Mt. Kenya West. We therefore believe that the time has come for the people of Mt. Kenya West to reciprocate that solidarity by supporting Kithure Kindiki unconditionally as the Deputy President and in his future ambitions of becoming the first President of the Republic of Kenya from Mount Kenya East,” they said.  

Prof. Kindiki, also a Njuri Ncheke elder, attended the meeting where the elders also declared him Mt. Kenya’s political pointman asking anyone who wants to engage residents to do so through the Deputy President.

“We express our full confidence and unwavering solidarity with the Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as a son of Mt. Kenya serving the Republic of Kenya in the nation's second-highest office. Therefore, any individual, leader or community seeking to engage the people of Mt. Kenya on any matter, including politics, shall do so through Deputy President Kithure Kindiki,” they declared.

In calling for reciprocity for previously supporting leaders from Mt. Kenya West, they asked their counterparts to back the DP just like they did for the former three presidents and two vice presidents who hailed from the region.

“We collectively, as the people of Mount Kenya East, supported President Jomo Kenyatta for 15 years, Mwai Kibaki as Vice President for 12 years and later as President for 10 years, Vice Presidents Joseph Karanja and George Kinuthia Kiarie Saitoti, and later Uhuru Kenyatta as President for 10 years without question or division,” they added.

In his address, the Deputy President said they have always supported leaders from Mt. Kenya West without qualms saying it is unfortunate some are returning the favour with insults and verbal abuse directed at him as the first resident from Mt. Kenya East to ever rise to the second most powerful office in the country.

He added that he respected his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, when he was Deputy President, stating that the former DP has instead chosen to insult him yet they are from the same region.

“No one from our region insulted him because he was the Deputy President for all of us. I was Interior Cabinet Secretary and there is no day I insulted him. When he was removed from office, the President respectfully presented the opportunity to Mt. Kenya to replace him. He had a choice to replace him with anyone else but he chose this region because he respects us,” Prof. Kindiki indicated.

Despite the insults, the second-in-command supported the elders’ quest to hold structured and respectful talks with their counterparts from Mt. Kenya West in a bid to forge a common position on matters affecting the political, economic, cultural and development future of the entire Mt. Kenya region.

“We support the request by M.t Kenya East elders to talk with Mt. Kenya West elders on how to bring our communities together. We will respect what they will agree on,” the DP said.

Prof. Kindiki also welcomed the elders’ request for faster completion of development projects in the region and commencement of others already in the pipeline.

Their plea included the construction of a dual-carriageway from Makutano through Embu, Chuka, Meru and Maua and redesigning of Nithi Bridge.

The DP promised not to let the region down in pushing for development projects and in assisting the President to lead the country.

“For us from Mt. Kenya East, we must support President Ruto’s re-election next year because voting for him means we are voting for ourselves,” the DP stated.