National unity non-negotiable, says DP Kindiki as Kenya heads to 2027 polls

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has issued a stark warning against political rhetoric that threatens national cohesion, urging Kenyans to embrace issue-based, constructive politics ahead of the 2027 general election. Addressing the congregation at Queen of All Saints Catholic Gaichanjiru Parish in Murang'a County during St. Raphael Hospital's centenary celebrations, Kindiki stressed that regional and national unity cannot be sacrificed for political expediency, particularly in vote-rich regions experiencing intensified political mobilization. "Let us be people to tolerate each other, even if we come from different regions. Let us not use that opportunity to disrupt the peace of our communities and the peace of the nation because politics is competition for leadership, and it is for a while," the Deputy President said. The intervention comes as the Mt. Kenya region, home to millions of voters, faces mounting political pressure from competing political movements. Kindiki dismissed talk of regional fragmentation, directly addressing residents of the mountain bloc to resist divisive messaging. "Do not be used to disrupt the peace of the community, to insult or fight your brother or your parents, or destroy the property of your neighbours because matters of politics will pass," Kindiki told congregants. "Those who will win will be our leaders; those who will not win are still leaders and will wait for another opportunity." The Deputy President positioned political competition as a temporary exercise that should not corrode the enduring fabric of shared community. He called for campaigns to centre on leaders' track records rather than ethnic or regional boundaries, emphasizing that the winner and loser alike would remain part of one nation and one people. Kindiki reaffirmed the Government's commitment to defending national and regional unity, pledging to deploy "all our strength, with all our might, with all our resources and with all our intellect" to preserve it. The statement underscores executive concern about divisive political mobilization ahead of the 2027 ballot. The Deputy President was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Alice Wahome (Lands) and Rebecca Miano (Tourism and Wildlife), as well as Principal Secretaries Alex Wachira (Energy), Salome Muhia-Beacco (Correctional Services) and Joel Arumonyang (Public Works). RECOGNIZING THE CHURCH'S ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT Kindiki used the forum to acknowledge the Catholic Church's decades-long partnership with government in delivering education, healthcare and social services. He cited St. Raphael Hospital's 100-year trajectory as emblematic of the Church's commitment to citizen welfare and nation-building. "The Catholic Church has set a good example among faith institutions because they have not just concentrated on preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but also on empowering citizens, building hospitals like this, schools and universities, providing water for communities, and improving the lives of our people," Kindiki said. He characterized the Church as the Government's "biggest stakeholder" in national development, positioning religious organizations as vital partners in the delivery of infrastructure, services and social transformation. "The work of Government is to serve the citizens, to construct roads, schools and markets, and to provide them with water and electricity. But the Church has helped us greatly in that sector," he added. INFRASTRUCTURE PUSH IN MURANG'A Turning to development delivery, Kindiki highlighted the Kenya Kwanza administration's investment in long-stalled road projects across the country. He announced that the Government has cleared contractor debts totalling over 177 billion shillings, allowing construction crews to resume work on over 6,000 kilometres of roads nationwide. In Murang'a County specifically, Kindiki outlined two flagship road projects promised by President William Ruto. The Mutoho-Manju to Kagumoini road has seen its first six kilometres completed, with blacktop work set to commence the following week. The Makenji-Karima Mwaro to Kandara road is already under active construction. The Deputy President emphasized equitable resource distribution across the country through completed and ongoing transformative projects, rejecting notions of discriminatory infrastructure allocation. He also highlighted that the Principal Secretary responsible for roads nationwide is an engineer from Kandara, positioning accountability directly within the Murang'a community's purview. "The President has allocated funds, and the one in charge of roads in Kenya is a child of Kandara. Therefore, the people of Murang'a, we know who to blame if the roads stall," Kindiki said, a pointed reference to accountability within the region itself.