Why I'm a 'Yes' DP to Ruto - Kindiki

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has explained why his loyalty to President William Ruto is unwavering despite mockery from some opposition leaders that he is a ‘Yes’ DP who never questions anything.

Speaking on Saturday in Siakago, Embu county, Kindiki said it’s unthinkable for anyone to image that he would go against the appointing authority and criticise the President or the same government he’s part of.

“Kuna watu wengine hapa wanatufunza siasa; ati ukuwe Deputy President halafu unapigana na Rais. It’s not possible”

“Ukitaka kupiga Rais enda kwa upinzani tumenyane ukiwa huko. (If you want to fight the President, join the opposition and fight from there).”

Kindiki said the ‘Yes’ strategy has been the trend with past vice presidents who exemplified unparalleled loyalty to the president of the day until they too became President.

“Sisi ni watu wa kusema ‘Yes’ kama ile ilisemwa na (Late President Daniel) Moi, (President Mwai) Kibaki na President Uhuru Kenyatta.”

He said Moi was a “Yes Man” to Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and eventually took over the helm after Mzee died suddenly in 1978.

He said Kibaki too was loyal to a fault to Moi druing the one party rule until he left government to join opposition politics but his loyalty would later be rewarded.

“There were times he was demoted from being a Vice President to a Minister of Interior, but he managed to become a president,” he said.

The DP said at some point, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, then serving as Gatundu South MP, tried to oppose Kibaki, but he was advised by Kikuyu elders to toe the line and he obliged.

He said Uhuru opposed the draft constitution during the 2005 referendum by joing the Orange team, but come the general election, he was fully behind the late President.

“In 2007, Uhuru backed Kibaki and said “Yes Sir”, and you know the rest. President William Ruto was also a ‘Yes Man’ to Uhuru,” the DP added.

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Kindiki warned those in government against opposing the President or the governmentr they serve in, saying if they must go against wave, they should join the opposition.

“You cannot be honoured by the President and result to attacking him and inciting the public. Instead of joining the rest of the Cabinet secretaries, you are fighting the President,” he said.

Kindiki said as a public servant, one should first tell the public what the government has achieved.

On March 26, Ruto sacked Public Service CS Justin Muturi after months of fiery remarks that were critical of the government.

The former CS became a vocal government critic particularly concerning the wave of abductions that were witnessed in the country at the height of anti-government protests, including that of his son.

Muturi said the government had failed to uphold its mandate regarding ending enforced disappearances.

“We vowed to end disappearances and extrajudicial killings, practices we condemned in previous regimes. Yet today, we find ourselves grappling with the very issues we swore to eradicate,” he said.

“The government cannot continue to deny knowledge of these abductions. It is its duty to protect lives and ensure justice.”

Following weeks of criticisim, Ruto hit out at Muturi, referring to him as “incompetent” during his time as Attorney General.

A day later, he fired him and replaced him with Geoffrey Ruku.

Without mentioning him by name, Kindiki also appeared to make reference to his predecessor Rigathi Gachagua who became a thorn in President Ruto’s flesh, leading to his impeachment in October 2024 for alleged insurbodination, promotion of divisive politics among other charges.

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