MASII, Kenya — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured residents of Ukambani that the region will not be sidelined in Kenya’s development plans, even as political temperatures begin to rise ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking in Masii, Machakos County, on Friday, Kindiki promised more investment in infrastructure, water projects, housing and education in the region. He said the government’s approach to development would not be shaped by political affiliations.
“We are developing this region just like every other part of Kenya,” he told a crowd gathered at Kawaya Grounds during an empowerment forum. “There’s no part of this country that’s less important.”
Kindiki, a close ally of President William Ruto, has toured several constituencies in the past week, including Machakos Town, Kangundo, Kitui East, and Kilome. His message has been consistent: the government is working to lift all regions equally, and now is the time for unity not politics.
He also revealed plans to reach out to Wiper Party leader and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka for consultations. “I will look for him,” Kindiki said. “Because development is not about sides it’s about service.”
The Deputy President took a swipe at unnamed politicians, accusing them of stirring division. “This is not the time for petty politics,” he said. “Every leader, whether in government or opposition, has a role in building the country.”
Kindiki insisted he was fully aligned with President Ruto’s agenda. “I’m a ‘Yes Man’—to the President and to wananchi, because they are my bosses,” he said, in response to critics who question his loyalty.
His remarks come at a time of heightened sensitivity, as opposition figures warn of deepening inequalities in public spending. But Kindiki said the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda was already reaching areas long left behind.
In Mwala, he highlighted government funding for the Mwala-Kangundo road and new water projects. Masii town is also set to receive affordable housing units, while technical training centres are being expanded in several locations.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and MPs from across the region accompanied Kindiki, in what appeared to be a deliberate show of cross-party unity. Among them were Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka Kawaya, Machakos Town’s Caleb Mule, and Kitui South’s Rachel Nyamai.
“We are here not for votes,” Ichung’wah told the gathering, “but to show that development is a shared goal.”
Whether Kindiki’s charm offensive will shift political loyalties in Ukambani remains to be seen. The region has long been a stronghold of the opposition. But as the government rolls out high-profile projects and shows up in numbers, the ground may be shifting.
For now, the Deputy President is betting on development over division and hoping the region listens.
