Kindiki spills the beans on rift with Gachagua

Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki inspects the construction of the Kibugua-Itugururu-Kabururu-Mati Road in Chuka-Igambang'ombe, Tharaka-Nithi County, on September 10, 2026. [Phares Mutembei, Standard]

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has claimed that his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, asked him to quit President William Ruto’s administration at the height of the political fallout that culminated in Gachagua’s impeachment.

Speaking when he inspected the construction of the Kibugua-Itugururu-Kabururu-Mati Road in Chuka-Igambang'ombe, Tharaka-Nithi County, on Thursday, Prof Kindiki alleged that, having formed the government with President Ruto, he resisted Gachagua’s attempts to drag him to the opposition.

The DP was Interior and National Government Coordination Cabinet Secretary when Ruto fell out with Gachagua, which ultimately led to his impeachment by the National Assembly and paved the way for Kindiki’s appointment as DP.

"My differences with you (Gachagua) were when you said we walk out of a government we had formed together. I said, 'No, this is our government. We cannot leave, because if we leave, other people who never voted for this government will be called in and they would take over our government,'" Kindiki said.

The DP said he told Gachagua off over his overtures to entice him to leave Ruto’s administration.

"I told him to walk (out) alone. I told him if he continued to talk like that while in office, I am going to arrest you (Gachagua), I am the Interior minister," he said.

Kindiki said he had told his predecessor to walk out of government if that was what he wanted after he fell out with Ruto.

He revealed that he had a cordial working relationship with Gachagua until he started to fight the Ruto administration from within and cause divisions.

Kindiki said Gachagua had disrespected him by calling him names, yet he had never looked down upon him.

"I want to tell my brother Rigathi to tell me which day, when he was DP, I looked down upon him. When did I politically fight him? Those who fought him politically are with him in what they are calling Alternative something," Kindiki said, in reference to the opposition outfit called Alternative Government.

"They are with them in the Alternative something. I did not do politics against him. I did not look down on him. I was busy protecting the security of our nation. I was a very serious man. I was not doing any politics," he added.

The DP said Gachagua had nothing to show in terms of projects he lobbied for in Tharaka-Nithi.

"I want to say that the day he will bring the people he is going round with here in Tharaka-Nithi, before he talks about the insults that he is directing at me and the President, before he says 'one term,' 'Kasongo' and 'Soprano,' he should first tell the people of Tharaka-Nithi, when he was in power, which road project he lobbied for, which water projects he brought, and electricity project he brought," he said.

He labelled Gachagua a small-time politician with a big ego.

"Rigathi is a small-time politician. Many people look big because of inflated ego, but they are small-time politicians. We will whitewash them because they are full of ego, insults and madharau," he said.

Kindiki challenged Gachagua to a political duel and exuded confidence that Ruto will triumph over the opposition.

"My friend, we have now entered a season of looking for leadership for the second term of President William Ruto and the Fireman (himself). Let us meet on the ground…," he said.