NAIROBI, Kenya- Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has made at least nine documented visits or major political engagements in Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties since March 2026 as the Kenya Kwanza administration intensifies efforts to consolidate support in Mt Kenya East.
The engagements have combined development inspections, public rallies and meetings with grassroots leaders as President William Ruto prepares to seek a second term in 2027.
A review of publicly reported events between March and September shows Kindiki has held at least two engagements in Embu, three in Meru and four in his home county of Tharaka Nithi.
In Embu, Kindiki visited Runyenjes on March 17 to inspect a Huduma Centre and other government projects.
He returned to the county on August 28 for a meeting with thousands of grassroots leaders at Nembure Stadium. During the meeting, he outlined the government’s development agenda and asked the leaders to mobilise support for Ruto’s re-election.
In neighbouring Meru, the Deputy President held engagements on March 18 before returning on April 21 for an extensive inspection of government projects in North Imenti.
He visited the county again on August 22, addressing a rally at Kinoru Stadium where he said Ruto needed a second term to build on the programmes started by his administration.
Kindiki has also made repeated appearances in Tharaka Nithi.
He conducted a development tour of Chuka/Igambang’ombe Constituency on April 2 and met UDA polling-centre officials at his Irunduni home on August 21.
Another meeting with party officials was reported at Irunduni on September 9 before Kindiki embarked on a development tour of the county on September 10.
During the latest visit, he directly challenged his predecessor, DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua, to explain the development projects he delivered while serving as Deputy President.
Kindiki’s intensified presence in the three counties comes as political competition for the Mt Kenya vote grows ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Deputy President has positioned himself as the government’s leading political figure in Mt Kenya East and has urged residents to support Ruto for another term.
Gachagua has, however, accused President Ruto of using Kindiki to separate Mt Kenya East from the rest of the wider region and weaken its collective political influence.
After Kindiki met elders and grassroots leaders in Embu in August, Gachagua said the meetings were part of an effort to divide Mt Kenya into competing political blocs.
The former Deputy President maintains that Mt Kenya should remain politically united and has accused the administration of using regional and ethnic differences to undermine that unity.
Government leaders have rejected the criticism, saying Kindiki’s visits are intended to inspect development projects, explain government programmes and mobilise support for the President.
Critics of the administration have argued that Kindiki’s role has increasingly been centred on countering Gachagua and securing Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi for Ruto.
Kindiki, however, has vowed to intensify his engagements across the region, saying the government will defend its development record and compete for every vote in 2027.
