Kindiki-Ruku altercation sign of mistrust within government

Sophocles, the ancient Greek tragedian, once observed, ‘Trust dies but mistrust blossoms.’ His words encapsulate the destructive power of deception and the inevitable collapse that follows when trust is eroded.

This principle is equally weighty in politics—once mistrust takes root, it weakens leadership and destabilises governance. Nowhere is this more evident than in President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government where internal divisions and diminishing public confidence signal a failure in administration.

Political mistrust sticks its legs in the public plane in ways that leave no room for doubt. What am I saying? The recent altercation between Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and newly appointed Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Geoffrey Ruku in Embu was one such moment—a stark revelation of the fractures within the Kenya Kwanza government.

What should have been a routine political engagement on Sunday, May 11, 2024, turned into an open confrontation. Realising the damage the exchange had caused, Prof Kindiki attempted to deflect, claiming his remarks were directed at the former CS.

However, the video footage circulating in mainstream and social media told a different story—one that Kenyans could interpret for themselves.

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This incident was more than just a heated exchange, it was a public display of the underlying mistrust within Ruto’s administration.

Kindiki’s handling of Ruku, calling him an inciter, exposed the tensions simmering beneath the surface. It also demonstrated how politicians, when caught in uncomfortable situations, attempt to rewrite reality—even when the evidence is clear for all to see.

Note that Kindiki and Ruku are the two most senior government officials from Mount Kenya East, a region comprising Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, and Kirinyaga counties. Kindiki hails from Tharaka Nithi while Ruku represents Embu.

Their public fallout raises questions about whether their differences are personal or indicate deeper scepticism in government toward the new CS.

Ruku’s appointment came at a time when the government was already struggling to maintain its foothold in the region. He replaced Justin Muturi, who had previously served as Attorney General.

Muturi has since aligned himself with disgruntled former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in openly criticising the Kenya Kwanza administration. Against this backdrop, the Kindiki-Ruku clash signals a divided front within the government that weakens further Ruto’s political stand in the Mount Kenya East region.

Kindiki’s reference to Ruku as a ‘public inciter’ was not merely an offhand remark. Could it be a reflection of deeper frustrations within Ruto’s administration? While his concerns about Ruku’s approach to governance may have been valid, the manner in which he addressed them was questionable.

A public reprimand of a newly appointed CS was not only unnecessary but also damaging to the government’s image, especially in Embu, where Ruto has faced hostility, most notably on November 16, 2024.

During his visit, Ruto was met with jeers while listing his administration’s achievements. Later that day, at the consecration of Bishop Peter Kimani at University of Embu, his reception remained lukewarm in stark contrast to the enthusiastic cheers for former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

That is why Kindiki’s more strategic approach would have been to address the concerns privately, allowing Ruku the opportunity to adjust his approach without public humiliation.

Instead, the spectacle reinforced perceptions of instability within the administration, particularly in a region where political loyalty is increasingly shifting toward the Opposition.

Notably, perception is often as powerful as reality in politics. The Kindiki-Ruku altercation was more than just a disagreement—it was a moment that laid bare the internal fractures within the Kenya Kwanza government.

Whether these tensions in Mount Kenya East and the larger Mount Kenya region will be resolved or continue to deepen remains to be seen. But one thing should be clear to the government-aligned officials in the region, led by Kindiki: Political mistrust, once exposed, is difficult to contain.

Dr Ndonye is a senior lecturer at Kabarak University’s Department of Mass Communication