Arise Media 
BY STEPHEN KILONZI
Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki has intensified his strategic campaign to cement his influence in the Mt Kenya region, positioning himself as President William Ruto’s key political anchor in the vote-rich bloc.
Through a blend of grassroots engagement and development-driven initiatives, Kindiki is working to secure the region’s backing while countering the growing political influence of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Kindiki’s latest foray into the region saw him preside over the first-ever bodaboda summit in Runyenjes, Embu County, where he urged leaders to shift focus from premature 2027 politics to tangible development projects.
His message was clear: development is the surest path to earning the people’s trust and securing long-term political dominance.
Embu County, like other parts of Mt Kenya, has witnessed rising discontent over unfulfilled government promises.
In November last year, President Ruto faced heckling during his visit, and more recently, mourners at the burial of former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti’s son rejected a condolence message from Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi.
Against this backdrop, Kindiki is tactfully engaging grassroots leaders and pushing for stalled projects to be revived, using development as his primary tool to win over the electorate.
“We are engaging directly with the people, ensuring that road projects, electricity connections, and water supply issues are addressed. This is what our people expect from us, and that is what we must deliver,” Kindiki stated in Runyenjes.
Beyond the development agenda, Kindiki’s approach signals a broader political strategy to entrench himself as the face of Mt Kenya’s leadership under Ruto’s administration.
His recent meetings with grassroots leaders in Tharaka Nithi, Meru, and Embu suggest a deliberate effort to consolidate his grip on the region, countering Gachagua’s narrative that Mt Kenya is being sidelined.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, a staunch Ruto ally, has thrown her weight behind Kindiki’s approach, urging residents to rally behind the president and his deputy for continued development.
Similarly, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has reinforced the message, emphasizing that development, rather than political rhetoric, should guide the region’s future.
However, Kindiki’s growing influence has not gone unnoticed. His rising prominence in the mountain is unsettling Gachagua’s camp, which continues to hold closed-door meetings to craft its political response.
Gachagua has been at the forefront of advocating for the “one-man, one-vote, one-shilling” revenue-sharing formula, a rallying call that has resonated with sections of the region.
Yet, Kindiki’s development-first strategy is designed to shift the political conversation from grievances to tangible progress, a move that could tilt the scales in his favor.
As the 2027 political landscape begins to take shape, Kindiki is banking on his ability to deliver results to win over Mt Kenya voters.
By leveraging government resources for infrastructure projects and positioning himself as a unifying figure, he is carefully crafting his role as Ruto’s most trusted lieutenant in the region.
With the battle for Mt Kenya’s vote intensifying, Kindiki’s strategic approach could prove decisive in shaping the region’s political direction.
Whether he can outmaneuver Gachagua remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—Mt Kenya is emerging as the most contested battleground ahead of 2027.
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