Kindiki hints at 2032 Presidential bid, urges Meru to back Ruto’s second term

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has hinted at a possible presidential bid in 2032, urging leaders from the Mt Kenya region to back President William Ruto for a second term while positioning the region for future leadership.

Speaking on Tuesday during an inspection tour of government-funded development projects in Buuri Constituency, Meru County, Kindiki dismissed opposition calls to deny Ruto a second term, framing the debate as a matter of strategic political calculation for the Meru community.

“Those guys are coming here and telling our people not to elect President William Ruto for a second term and elect someone else,” Kindiki said. “Let me ask you, between waiting for William Ruto to serve for another term of five years, and waiting for another person to be elected and serve for ten years, where as the Meru people is our best bet for the Presidency?”

He added: “We are people who do proper political calculations. We cannot allow some of our brothers to mislead us and land our people into a ditch.”

At the same time, Kindiki launched a scathing attack on the opposition, accusing it of lacking a credible agenda and relying on propaganda and divisive rhetoric.

“The opposition do not have anything to offer Kenyans and their lies and propaganda will be ruthlessly dismantled,” he said, warning that the government would confront its critics directly.

“They are small people who want to bully us. They don't know us well. We will handle them eyeball to eyeball, man to man. No one will come here to incite our people through falsehoods and useless propaganda,” the Deputy President declared.

Kindiki argued that opposition leaders, many of whom have previously held senior government positions, failed to deliver meaningful development during their time in office.

“They have been Vice Presidents, Deputy Presidents and very senior ministers. All they pursued during their term in office were personal interests. Now that they are no longer in office, they want to come here, lie to our people through propaganda and incite them to abandon the government yet we are witnessing real and tangible development. We cannot allow such games,” he said.

He further vowed to counter opposition influence in Meru, promising an aggressive political presence in the region.

“For every one trip the opposition makes to Meru, I will make 20 times. I know how to deal with these people because they are clueless. I downed them in by-elections in Mbeere yet they had beat their chests and insulted us. But they didn’t know what hit them during the elections,” he added.

During the tour, Kindiki inspected several major infrastructure projects, including the Kwa Mumero–Kithithina–Mia Moja–Timau–Ngusishi–Ngare Dare Road being constructed at a cost of Sh1.7 billion, the Timau Affordable Housing project valued at Sh766 million, and the Timau ESP Market.

He noted that Meru County is among the biggest beneficiaries of the administration’s development agenda, revealing that Sh39 billion has been allocated for 736 kilometres of road projects across the county. Additionally, Meru town has received Sh3.7 billion for 17 kilometres of urban roads.

The county is also set to benefit from 18 modern markets costing a total of Sh3.3 billion, which are at various stages of completion. In the energy sector, the government has earmarked Sh2.3 billion to connect electricity to 27,000 additional households.

Kindiki also pledged the construction of two mega dams in Buuri Constituency once the National Infrastructure Fund becomes operational.

“I want to make it clear that the difference between us and our opponents is as clear as day and night. We will beat them hands down in the 2027 elections. There is no place for these people. They have specialized in insults and chest thumping. They are going nowhere,” he said.

Leaders present at the event included Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma, Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri, Woman Representative Kailemia Karambu, and Igembe South MP John Paul Mwirigi, alongside several Members of County Assembly.