Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has led a chorus of senior leaders in condemning his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, for using funeral services as platforms for political confrontation and “disrespectful” attacks against the Head of State.
The rebuke follows a series of heated political exchanges that peaked during the funeral of David Kiaraho’s relative in Ol Kalou, where Gachagua reportedly “lectured” President William Ruto in a public address.
Kindiki Defends Cultural Traditions
Speaking in Buuri, Meru County, during the burial of the mother of Council of Governors (CoG) CEO Mary Mwiti, DP Kindiki emphasized that political vitriol at a time of mourning is a violation of African cultural norms.
“Insults and selfish political fights at funerals constitute a grave violation of culture and tradition, and is offensive to the bereaved family,” Kindiki stated.
The Deputy President’s remarks signal an escalating effort by the administration to frame the former DP’s aggressive grassroots “reclamation” campaign as a breach of national and cultural decorum.
Governors Demand “Political Maturity”
A powerful bloc of governors from across the political spectrum joined Kindiki in Buuri, accusing Gachagua of belittling the Office of the President. The leaders—representing both the Mt. Kenya region and the wider nation—urged the former DP to exercise restraint.
The group of governors included:
- Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga)
- Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi)
- Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a)
- Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay)
- Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir)
- Abdi Guyo (Isiolo)
- Mahmood Mohamed (Marsabit)
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and her colleagues called for “political tolerance and maturity,” noting that while political differences are inevitable, they should not be aired in a manner that undermines the presidency or the sanctity of burial rites.
Waiguru Reaffirms Mt. Kenya’s Loyalty to Ruto
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru used the platform to clarify the political standing of the Mt. Kenya region, directly countering Gachagua’s narrative that the region is drifting toward the opposition.
Waiguru insisted that the “Mountain” would not abandon the government for an opposition that she claimed lacks a clear agenda for the people.
“We will stay inside government and will not leave to go to opposition,” Waiguru declared. “Like his predecessors Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, President Ruto should be allowed to complete his two terms. We are firmly behind his re-election in 2027.”
The 2027 Context
The verbal showdown in Meru highlights the deepening fracture in Mt. Kenya politics. While Gachagua continues to mobilize a “betrayed” base, the current administration—led by Kindiki and senior governors—is aggressively moving to consolidate the region’s support, framing Gachagua as a disruptive figure whose tactics go against the grain of both development and tradition.
