GK Kariuki: Kindiki has failed Mt Kenya East after Ol Kalou defeat

By Newsflash Writer

Ndia MP GK Kariuki has launched a scathing attack on Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, accusing him of failing to provide political leadership in the Mt Kenya region following the ruling United Democratic Alliance’s (UDA) humiliating defeat in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.

Speaking to journalists in Kirinyaga on Tuesday, July 21, Kariuki dismissed Kindiki’s assertion that the outcome of the by-election amounted to a political “draw” between President William Ruto’s UDA and Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).

The legislator, who has been a key ally of President Ruto in Mt Kenya, said the ruling party should acknowledge the scale of its defeat instead of attempting to downplay the results.

“I was shocked to hear Kithure Kindiki claim that we settled for a draw because we won Mbeere. That is not true. In Ol Kalou we suffered a crushing defeat and could not even defend ourselves. We lost by 87%, while in Mbeere we left our opponents with only about 400 votes,” Kariuki said.

He went further to accuse the Deputy President of lacking the political influence needed to rally leaders behind the broad-based government.

“Kindiki is actually the biggest challenge facing us as Mt Kenya MPs aligned with the broad-based government. He has completely failed to provide leadership. Instead of offering direction, he is busy moving around with Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku. He has virtually no influence. He has failed so badly that even if he were asked to lead us, we would prefer to follow someone else,” he added.

Debate over Mt Kenya unity

Kariuki’s remarks come as political temperatures continue to rise over attempts to split the Mt Kenya voting bloc into eastern and western political zones ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The debate has been fuelled by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, who has repeatedly argued that Mt Kenya East—comprising Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties—will overwhelmingly back President Ruto’s re-election bid by delivering more than two million votes.

In a series of public statements, Ruku has insisted that the eastern region should chart its own political path rather than remain tied to Mt Kenya West, which comprises Nyeri, Nyandarua, Kiambu, Murang’a and Kirinyaga counties.

Among his remarks, Ruku declared that leaders from Mt Kenya East were no longer interested in the political direction of the western bloc, arguing that the region had been politically taken for granted for years.

Kindiki calls for unity

Despite Ruku’s comments, Kindiki has publicly distanced himself from any attempts to divide the region.

Addressing residents in Embu on Sunday, July 19, the Deputy President urged leaders to preserve the unity of the Mt Kenya region, saying political differences should not create unnecessary divisions.

“We have not seen anything yet. We are one people. We don’t want to speak different languages. There is nothing that can divide us. I will unite the people of Mt Kenya region and will not allow attempts to scuttle the unity of our communities. We are one community, one Kenya,” Kindiki said.

The Deputy President has maintained that DCP’s victory in Ol Kalou should not be viewed as a decisive political blow to UDA, insisting the outcome represented a “draw” when considered alongside the party’s performance in the Mbeere contest.

Meanwhile, DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has urged his allies to tone down their attacks on Kindiki, signalling a cautious approach even as the political contest for influence in the Mt Kenya region intensifies ahead of the 2027 elections.