Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has publicly rejected criticism by former Chief Justice David Maraga over the government’s empowerment initiatives, defending the programs as effective tools for poverty alleviation and youth engagement.
Speaking Monday during a community event in Meru County, DP Kindiki said the programs particularly those targeting youth in low-income areas are producing visible results. DP Kindiki accused Maraga of being out of touch with the struggles of ordinary Kenyans.
“There are people in Nairobi who are disrespectful. I had someone say that 500 shillings is small,” DP Kindiki told the crowd. “If one earns 500 daily and gets paid every Saturday, is that money or not?”
The Deputy President was responding to Maraga’s remarks made during a live television interview on July 15. former CJ Maraga had questioned the long-term value and transparency of government-led financial handouts and job creation drives, warning that such schemes might offer only temporary relief.
“Don’t go out dishing money to people when you are supposed to revamp the economy so that these people can earn their own money,” Maraga said in the interview. “Giving someone Ksh1,000 or Ksh2,000 won’t last.”
Maraga’s comments triggered debate across the political spectrum, with some backing his call for structural economic reforms, while others defended the ongoing programs as practical solutions during tough economic times.
DP Kindiki cited the Kazi Mtaani youth employment program saying it had helped thousands of young people stay productive while earning modest but meaningful wages. “The youth will have no time to be involved in drugs or crime because these jobs keep them engaged, earning Ksh3,500 a week,” DP Kindiki said.
DP Kindiki reiterated what he called tangible improvements in informal settlements and border towns, where youth and women have been provided with working tools, capital, and training.
“We are seeing real change among beneficiaries. These programs are not for show. They are restoring dignity to the forgotten,” DP Kindiki said.
The Deputy President insisted that the empowerment initiatives were part of a broader development agenda and not election tactics, rejecting claims that money was being distributed to sway political loyalty. “We will not be distracted. Our mission is to deliver results to the people, not to impress elites,” Kindiki said.
Maraga had cautioned citizens to avoid being swayed by token financial handouts especially close to elections. “They should not be given a few hundred or thousands of shillings on the eve of elections to vote for the wrong people,” Maraga warned.
The war of words reflects broader tensions between the former Chief Justice and the current deputy president over national priorities with DP Kindiki positioning himself as a defender of grassroots programs while Maraga urges structural reforms over short-term aid.
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