EMBU, Kenya — Deputy President Pro. Kithure Kindiki has moved to dismiss growing speculation that the Kenya Kwanza coalition is losing political ground in the Mt Kenya region following the government-backed candidate’s defeat in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
Kindiki said the ruling coalition remained united and accused unnamed political actors of attempting to create divisions within the region for political gain.
Speaking during the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Diocese of Embu’s 36th Anniversary Thanksgiving service at Kigari Teachers Training College on Sunday, the Deputy President insisted that Mt Kenya had a long history of political unity and would not be divided by current political contests.
The remarks came days after the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) won the Ol Kalou parliamentary seat, defeating the Kenya Kwanza-backed candidate in a result that sparked debate over the coalition’s influence in President William Ruto’s traditional political stronghold.
The outcome has since been interpreted by opposition leaders as evidence of declining support for the government in parts of Mt Kenya, while Kenya Kwanza allies have maintained that the result was shaped by local factors and should not be viewed as a national political trend.
Without directly mentioning the by-election, Kindiki said attempts to portray the region as politically fractured were misplaced.
“I come from this region, and I do not want our communities to be divided. We are one people,” Kindiki said.
He added that Mt Kenya communities had historically acted together on major political questions and urged leaders to avoid rhetoric that could create unnecessary divisions.
The Deputy President described himself as a unifying figure who would work to ensure the region remained cohesive despite emerging political disagreements.
“Those who think they will bring confusion to Mt Kenya by making people speak in different voices and dividing them should relax,” he said.
Kindiki’s remarks come amid renewed political activity in the region, with opposition leaders seeking to use the Ol Kalou outcome as a symbol of changing voter attitudes ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Deputy President, however, argued that future elections would be determined by government performance rather than political campaigns, saying voters would judge leaders based on their record in office.
“What will save the President, the Deputy President, governors, Members of Parliament and all leaders is the work they have done for the people, not the noise being made,” he said.
Kindiki expressed confidence that Kenya Kwanza would retain public support, citing previous political victories despite difficult circumstances.
He also cautioned leaders against turning churches into political battlegrounds, saying places of worship should remain focused on faith and development rather than political confrontation.
“We will not use the altar to do foolish things, deliver confusing messages, destroy communities or divide people,” he said.
The Deputy President said the government would continue working with religious institutions in areas such as education, healthcare, water provision and social welfare.
However, the political significance of Ol Kalou continues to dominate debate, with analysts watching whether the by-election represents an isolated constituency-level outcome or a wider shift in Mt Kenya’s political alignment ahead of 2027.
