Kindiki at 1: The supportive deputy making his boss happy

The adroit lawyer was serving as the Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) after he failed to be picked by President William Ruto as his running mate in the run-up to the 2022 General Election.

He, however, remained poised as he manned the Interior Ministry, veering off the murky side of politics, until his predecessor Rigathi Gachagua, was impeached.

President Ruto welcomed Prof. Kindiki as his political wingman, and off he went with praising the administration's politics, some unsavory, even earning him the name "Mr. Yes Sir".

A national daily baptized Kindiki with the title, describing him as President Ruto's 'perfect' deputy, a dependable, compliant assistant who was not as abrasive as the ousted Rigathi Gachagua.

Now 1 year in office, which clocked on November 1, the 53-year-old has maintained a persistent record of being the prefect deputy, seemingly pleasing his boss.

Defender-in-chief

As a fully-fledged politicker, he has hopped on the bandwagon of censuring those going after President Ruto’s administration.

On February 3, he urged critics to assess Ruto's administration fairly, claiming that the government has made significant progress in its first two years in office.

Kindiki urged detractors to give the government time to carry out its plans rather than engaging in endless political debates. 

“Between one election and another, we have work to do. Countries that have delivered development to their people understand that politics cannot be played forever," he said.

With a curated thick skin for political tussles, DP Kindiki has spared no one daring to speak ill of the Kenya Kwanza regime.

He has even gone after Gachagua's jugular, urging Kenyans to disregard his predecessor's politics, labelling him as divisive.

Kindiki has affirmed his loyalty to President Ruto, telling off critics urging him to challenge his boss on unpopular policies.

"When President William Ruto was elected, our economy had declined; it was in a bad state because for nearly two years, 2020–2021, no work continued in Kenya or worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic," Kindiki noted during a past event in Machakos. 

He also did not spare former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who faulted the Kenya Kwanza government for what he termed “untested and untried experiments” that were hurting Kenyans.

"Today, many of the gains of the past have been eroded. Linda Mama and others have been replaced by new, untried and untested schemes. While we wait for these experiments to work, Kenyans suffer and our progress is dragged," Uhuru said during a Jubilee Party National Delegates Conference in September.

With a knack for swift rebuttals, DP Kindiki maintained that critics of Kenya Kwanza's programmes should be honest in their assessments, saying the government’s flagship Social Health Authority (SHA) offers wider coverage than previous schemes.

Prof Kindiki dismissed comparisons between SHA and the Jubilee-era Linda Mama programme, arguing that critics missed the broader vision. 

"This government of William Ruto has really tried, my friends. Those who want to criticise it should go ahead, but let them be truthful and not spread lies. The Linda Mama program, which used to take care of expectant mothers, has been expanded through the Social Health Authority. Now it protects mothers, it protects the elderly, it protects the youth, and it also protects children. We now call it Linda Jamii," said Kindiki in Garissa days after Uhuru's statement.

For most of 2024, he has had the empowerment programmes that have been marred by political clamor.

Targeting the empowerment of youth and women, the initiative is meant to complement other fully-fledged programs, including National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) and Kenya Jobs Economic Transformation.

The programme has been engaging saccos belonging to youths, women, and small-scale traders across the country.

DP Kindiki has vehemently defended the programme, saying it is meant to complement other far-reaching policies being implemented.

“Empowerment is central to bettering the lives of millions of Kenyans, especially those at the grassroots. This is something we will not relent in pursuing. Anyone opposed to it doesn't know how Ksh.10,000, Ksh.20,000, Ksh.50,000 is crucial to uplifting someone's hustle,” he indicated at a past event in Meru County.

The programme has been used as ammunition by the opposition, as Gachagua branded him as "Mr. Moneybags", accusing him of misappropriating government funds through the empowerment programmes. 

The supportive DP

Unlike his predecessor, Kindiki has not attempted to raise a dissenting voice against the ruling administration.

He has remained loyal to President Ruto, dutifully doing what he is supposed to do and drumming up support for all ambitious development proposals in the education, health, employment, agriculture and industrialisation sectors.

He has also maintained a keen observation of the Kenyan youth, notably picking up famous slogans to win their adulation.

This has been a pertinent move for not only him but all political leaders, as the run-up to the 2027 General Election has heavily targeted the youth, who make up the largest population in the nation.

Ruto touted Kindiki as the best deputy president, pitting him to be calm, composed, supportive, understanding and a better performer than Gachagua.

“I’m very proud to have a deputy who understands government and what we are doing in infrastructure, education and agriculture and is supportive of the ministers and me to make sure Kenya is going forward," said Ruto in May.

Kindiki remains to move with stealth, carefully launching ammunition at his political prey and being the loyal servant, careful not to prick his boss.