Kindiki rebukes Ruku over Embu road appeal

By Daisy Okiring

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Saturday publicly censured Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, accusing him of inciting the public over stalled road projects during a high-profile meeting with over 5,000 elders in Embu County.

The clash unfolded during a joint event co-hosted by the two leaders, where Ruku appealed to the government to prioritize the tarmacking of roads in Siakago.

Kindiki, however, condemned the move, stating that Ruku, now part of the Cabinet, should address development concerns internally rather than through public pressure.

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“You are now part of the Cabinet. You should not be inciting the public with complaints,” Kindiki asserted. “The President entrusted you with that flag. Respect it.”

The Deputy President emphasized that Cabinet Secretaries wield substantial influence in government and should engage with the Executive through formal structures, not public platforms that could suggest disunity or disloyalty.

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Earlier that day, Kindiki had been in Meru County attending a church service and highlighting national projects, including the construction of 400 markets. He later traveled to Kiambu for a traders’ empowerment forum, urging support for the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Since his public censure by Kindiki, Ruku has maintained a conspicuous silence, avoiding both media and public appearances. Newsflash made multiple attempts to contact him for comment, but calls and messages went unanswered.

Kindiki has been actively working to consolidate support in the Mt Kenya East region on behalf of President William Ruto. This comes in the wake of a political fallout between President Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, creating a power vacuum that Kindiki seeks to fill.

However, Kindiki has been struggling to edge out Gachagua’s political dominance from the region for months.