Heckles and Headwinds: Kindiki Faces Jeers in Nyeri as Rift in Kenya Kwanza Deepens

Nyeri, Kenya — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was met with open hostility on Tuesday as he addressed a gathering in Othaya, Nyeri County. From beyond the event’s perimeter fence, a group of rowdy youths chanted “one term” slogans — a not-so-subtle jab at his political future.

Security officers quickly moved to disperse the crowd. Additional police were brought in to keep things under control as the empowerment event carried on inside the stadium.

But the tension lingered.

Speaking from the podium, Kindiki appeared to hit out at his political rival — and predecessor — Rigathi Gachagua. Without naming names, he accused unnamed leaders of attempting to control the Mount Kenya region through threats and intimidation.

“These things of leaders coming to scare others must stop,” said Kindiki. “We must respect each other. Respect is not slavery.”

In a sharp retort aimed at what many interpreted as Gachagua’s perceived dominance in the region, he added: “You can’t come here acting like you know everything… like you’re the only one who must be listened to. Who do you think you are? God?”

The public dressing-down is the latest sign of a widening rift in Kenya Kwanza, particularly in central Kenya — a key voting bloc ahead of the 2027 elections.

Fallout with Embu?

Earlier in the day, the Deputy President had hosted Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire at his official residence in Karen. The meeting came amid whispers of a fallout, following a tense exchange in Embu during the recent Madaraka Day celebrations.

Brushing off talk of a split, Kindiki said: “We have no differences with leaders or with the people of Embu. Those trying to create conflict — there’s none.”

He also defended his earlier meetings in Embu, which Mbarire did not attend. According to the DP, they were “not political” and had nothing to do with undermining the governor.

“To be clear — we’re fine,” Kindiki said. “She sends her greetings. She couldn’t be here today because the President had called a meeting with all Governors about livestock vaccination.”

Muguka Debate Looms Large

The tensions in Embu also come against the backdrop of a hot-button debate over muguka, a mild stimulant grown widely in the region.

Speaking at a macadamia conference, Kindiki announced that he had stepped in to halt a controversial bill in Parliament. The Cash Crops (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, had proposed removing muguka from the list of scheduled cash crops — and classifying it as a drug instead.

The move would have dealt a major blow to farmers in Embu, where muguka is a key economic lifeline.

Kindiki said he had engaged with the bill’s sponsor, who has since written to the Speaker of the National Assembly asking to withdraw it.

For now, the storm seems to have passed — but political winds are shifting fast. What began as a routine empowerment event in Nyeri has exposed deeper undercurrents in the ruling coalition.

And with chants of “one term” still echoing across Mount Kenya, the road ahead for Deputy President Kindiki may be bumpier than expected.

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