Sabina Chege Declares CS Kindiki New Mount Kenya Kingpin, Sparks Political Firestorm

 

By Sysvoline Atieno 

 In a move that has electrified and unsettled the political landscape of the Mount Kenya region, Nominated MP Hon. Sabina Chege has publicly crowned Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki as the region’s new political kingpin—effectively casting aside Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Chege made the bold proclamation during a weekend political forum, citing what she called a “leadership vacuum” caused by Gachagua’s estrangement from President William Ruto and his self-imposed withdrawal from government duties.

“When the former president was in power, he was the kingpin in the Mount Kenya region,” Chege said, referring to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“After his exit, Gachagua took over—mainly due to his position as Deputy President. But his recent ‘impeachment’ from within the government and his withdrawal from official duties have changed everything.”

Her words landed like a political thunderclap in a region already reeling from internal divisions and waning influence at the national level.

Gachagua’s Fall from Grace

Once seen as Mount Kenya’s undisputed torchbearer in the Kenya Kwanza government, Gachagua’s political fortunes have nosedived in recent months amid reports of strained ties with President Ruto. In a dramatic statement earlier this week, the DP admitted to feeling isolated and frustrated within the administration—declaring a retreat from active government roles.

This sudden power vacuum has left the region’s leaders and electorate asking: Who will now steer the Mountain’s voice in national politics?

Enter Prof. Kithure Kindiki

According to Chege, the answer is already clear—and it lies with the soft-spoken but formidable Interior CS.

“The President clearly values loyalty and delivery over theatrics. Kindiki represents a new kind of leadership that’s focused on results, not noise,” Chege stated.

Kindiki, a former Tharaka Nithi Senator and constitutional lawyer, has cultivated a reputation for quiet effectiveness, especially in handling sensitive national security assignments. His deliberate, conflict-averse style stands in stark contrast to Gachagua’s often combative and populist rhetoric.

Political analysts say Chege’s endorsement of Kindiki is both strategic and symbolic—an attempt to pivot Mount Kenya politics toward a more technocratic, less tribalized future. But not everyone is buying it.

Divided Mountain, Fractured Loyalties

The declaration has already sparked fierce debate across the region. Gachagua loyalists have slammed Chege’s remarks as premature and disrespectful to a sitting Deputy President.

“This is political betrayal of the highest order,” said one vocal Gachagua ally who requested anonymity. “You don’t discard a leader because he’s facing political headwinds. That’s when you rally behind him.”

However, other leaders, especially from the eastern and southern flanks of Mount Kenya, have welcomed the idea of a Kindiki-led realignment, arguing that the region needs fresh, unifying leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.

What’s at Stake in 2027?

With President Ruto expected to seek re-election, the battle for the soul of Mount Kenya is intensifying. The region, long considered the cornerstone of any winning coalition, is now politically rudderless—divided between legacy Uhuru loyalists, Gachagua allies, and now, a rising pro-Kindiki faction.

Sabina Chege’s declaration is more than political theater—it is a signal that the scramble for Mount Kenya’s future is officially underway.

Whether Kindiki rises to the occasion or Gachagua stages a comeback, one thing is certain: the Mountain is rumbling, and the aftershocks will shape Kenya’s politics for years to come.