Ruto's hand in Kindiki's tribulations amid tension in Cabinet

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is a man between a rock and a hard place. Few weeks ago he was moving across the country with display of power and influence.

However, his fortunes seem to have taken a turn. And as he is wallowing in pitiable uncertainty, his rivals seem to be having a field day plotting his eviction party. In all this, one man is quiet. President William Ruto seems indifferent to the broadsides his deputy is receiving. He is neither stopping the crowd flinging mud at Kindiki nor is he reassuring his deputy that mbele iko sawa.

As all this is unfolding, there is a politician who has a rare spring in his step. Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya's stars seem to be aligning.

From public snubs by some of President Ruto’s allies, to being sidelined in key political engagements involving the Head of State, Deputy President Kindiki now appears an isolated Deputy as his boss’ silence grows louder.

Prof Kindiki’s influence has in the recent past become the subject of intense debate following public rebuke by public servants who serve under him as well as MPs of the ruling party where he is their deputy in the ruling United Democratic Alliance Party (UDA).

However, the President appears unbothered while his deputy faces isolation and continues being undermined, prompting questions about the level of coordination and unity at the top of government.

Recently, the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, communicated a decision of the President to transfer Kindiki’s key role of inter-governmental coordination to the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, indicating that Kindiki had another broad constitutional mandate of assisting the President

“In view of the foregoing, and conscious of the broad constitutional mandate of the Deputy President as the principal assistant to the President, it is notified that His Excellency the President has, pursuant to Article 132(3)(c) of the Constitution, designated you as the Cabinet Secretary responsible for the implementation and administration of the  Intergovernmental Relations Act, Cap.265F of the Laws of Kenya.

“Accordingly, you are required to take the necessary measures to ensure the effective implementation and administration of the Intergovernmental Relations Act (Chapter 265 of the Laws of Kenya), in support of the Office of the Deputy President's mandate of fostering intergovernmental relations,” the letter read.

The Standard has learnt that the Gazette Notice is now awaiting Ruto’s signature before it is forwarded to the government press for publishing.

While presiding over Kindiki’s swearing in ceremony in November 1 2024, Ruto heaped praises to him while announcing that he was coming in to fill the void, help shoulder the responsibility, and assist him in articulating government policies and development projects to the public.

Saying that he had been lonely at the top for the two years he worked with his former Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, Ruto described Kindiki as a dedicated professional whose commitment to excellence has helped the country overcome daunting challenges. He also described his Deputy as a tireless public servant on the path of national leadership.

“Abraham is also a patriot whose dedication to cohesion, national unity, and inclusivity is beyond reproach, an effective champion of peace and stability. He is a loyal steward of our bottom-up economic transformation agenda, whom, together with many others, we crafted to take our country to the next level,” he said.

 He added: “I can confirm that in all these roles he has demonstrated exceptional dedication, high competence and professionalism, and consistently delivered results beyond expectations. Professor Kindiki is a highly qualified and outstanding scholar, advocate, and public servant whose career has been defined by exemplary achievements which demonstrate his vision for positive change and commitment to high standards of efficiency in the performance of his duties.

Despite his praises two years ago, the President’s silence as his Deputy fights for a space in an administration where he serves as number two, the President seems to have turned his back on him since the two are not seen together in public meetings.

In the month of July, the two have only shared a podium three times, with Kindiki seemingly retreating to his Irunduni home and attending other functions in Mt Kenya East while giving a wide berth to the larger Mt Kenya West region.

Kindiki only appeared at State House, Nairobi, on July 21, July 8 and July 6, 2026 when he attended Kenya Vision 2030 event, the assenting to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill and the assenting to the Central Bank of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2023 respectively.

The second in command has held four public meetings in Mt Kenya East and one meeting in Nakuru County on July 10 when he presided over the disbursement of Sh3 billion meant for Nyota Fund.

On July 25, Kindiki was in Meru where he attended the 11th Annual Farmers Field Day, Gitoro Show Grounds, Meru Town, while on July 19 he presided over the official opening of the Kigari Teachers College Administration Block, and later attended the 36th anniversary celebrations of the Embu ACK Diocese.

On July 12, he was in Meru County again, where he attended a church event at Igembe Methodist Synod and later held public rallies.

On July 19 and 22, Kindiki attended a church event in Embu and presided over issuance of title deeds in Yatta, Machakos county respectively.

He has also held seven meetings at his Karen residence and additional three meetings in Rift Valley.

Instructively, Kindiki’s strategy mirrors those of Gachagua before his impeachment two years ago, where he hardly joined the President in his public meetings but opted to focus on his home turf to arguably prepare his ground and to consolidate his supporters.

Just like Gachagua who maintained that he was part of the leaders who formed the government and could not resign, Koindiki too said the likes of Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, who was being flaunted to take his position, was welcome to the government but he would not move an inch.

In October 2024, Gachagua said “I was elected by 7.2 million Kenyans; how dare you suggest I resign without public participation? I have no intention of resigning from this job, I can’t look for votes and ensure this administration is elected and then I abandon the government.

Kindiki told his supporters in his Meru turf, "You do not build a house, complete it, furnish it, and then abandon it to go and live in the forest. That is not possible. We are not going anywhere. We are in the government to stay.”

While Kindiki has been a rare guest at State House, Oparanya, who has been presented as ODM’s best bet for Ruto’s running mate, was enjoying the laws of the House on the Hill yesterday as he ‘briefed the President on the “progress the Financial Inclusion Fund, popularly known as the Hustler Fund’.

After the event, Ruto wrote “Received a brief on the progress the Financial Inclusion Fund, popularly known as the Hustler Fund, is making in the lives of customers. We will continue resourcing the fund so that Kenyans can continue accessing the most affordable credit in the country.”

The Standard has also learnt that officers working under Kindiki are yet to receive their allowances since April, while travel that boosts their allowances has drastically reduced since January.

“At some point in January, the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), which is chaired by the Deputy President met but have not received their allowances to date only suppliers received their dues but this raised questions because they are facilitated directly through State House which also approves the Secretariat’s expenditure,” a source familiar with the matter said.

Gachagua on Tuesday said it was Ruto who was behind Kindiki’s woes, saying he had warned him against being used to fighting him.

“It is Ruto who has directed his allies to undermine Kindiki this is what he did before the impeachment. I called him and warned him against allowing Ruto to use his dagger against me, he is now paying for his mistakes,” he said.