By Anderson Ojwang
With only 48 hours to the Mbeere North by-election, pressure is building and the epic duel between the two deputies has reached fever pitch. It is a bare-knuckle contest, and none is letting up as both apply every tactic possible to win the election.
Deputy President Prof. Kindiki Kithure is at his best, showcasing his political acumen as he battles it out with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in what is billed as a battle of titans.
For the first time, Mt Kenya is witnessing a political earthquake threatening to split the mountain right down the middle, with the two sworn rivals not ready to back down.
If anything, the by-election has reopened old wounds—now bleeding—and could result in premium tears and potentially tear the mountain apart ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At a rally today, Kindiki issued a stern warning to Gachagua, telling him to focus on campaigning for his candidate Newton Karish and avoid provoking him.
He said he had tolerated Gachagua for long out of respect and because he does not like engaging his kinsmen.
“I have been in politics longer than Rigathi Gachagua. I have kept quiet for a long time because I didn’t want to engage him and I don’t like engaging my kinsmen. But he has come too far, too close, and is now within shooting range,” he said.
Kindiki likened himself to the biblical David and Gachagua to Goliath, saying the latter would suffer a humiliating defeat in Thursday’s by-election.
“Mimi kama David kwa Biblia. Huyu Goliath unaona leo, nitaangusha… Saa zako zimeisha. Funga virago uende nyumbani. Iko new sheriff in town. Sisi ndiyo watu wa kusema.”
Kindiki insisted Gachagua was not his peer—politically, academically, or professionally—as he had held multiple senior positions while Gachagua was a junior civil servant.
“Na ukiendelea hivyo, mimi nitakuabisha. Rigathi Gachagua, nitakuabisha. Wachana na mimi. Omba kura ya Karish. Mimi si mtu wa kucheza naye… Siku zako zimeisha. Alhamisi tunakumalizia.”
Kindiki dismissed Gachagua’s claim that he was President William Ruto’s employee, saying he was the Deputy President by right.
“I am the Deputy President of Kenya by right. Huyu jamaa wa mitego akisema mimi ni mfanyakazi wa William Ruto—hanijui.”
He went on to outline his career:
“Siku alikuwa naibu wa relief, mimi nilikuwa professor. Siku hiyo alikuwa DO na akafutwa kazi, mimi nilikuwa wakili wa Uhuru Kenyatta na William Ruto kule ICC… Mimi nimekuwa senator miaka kumi, deputy speaker wa Senate, majority leader, Waziri wa Usalama. Yeye amekuwa nini? One-term MP, backbencher…”
He also revisited the UDA running mate selection process, accusing Gachagua of blackmail.
“Wakati chama iliketi kuchagua moja wetu, hukupata hata kura moja… Ukaleta fujo na maandamano—‘No Rigathi, no Ruto’… Baada ya miaka miwili, wewe mwenyewe ukajitoa kwa kiti kwa sababu hujui kukaa na mkubwa wako.”
