Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said he will remain in government and continue supporting President William Ruto’s administration amid growing political debate over the Kenya Kwanza coalition’s choice of running mate for the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a mass service in Murang’a County on Sunday, Kindiki said he remained focused on his government responsibilities and advancing the administration’s development agenda.
"Siwezi kutoka kwa hii serikali; hii ni serikali yetu!" Kindiki said.
His remarks come as political discussions intensify within Kenya Kwanza and among its allies over the coalition’s strategy for the 2027 polls, including speculation over who will deputise President Ruto if he seeks re-election.
Kindiki, however, used his address to focus largely on development and the role of the Catholic Church in supporting communities.
He praised the church for its contribution to education, healthcare and other social services, saying such initiatives complement government efforts to improve the lives of Kenyans.
Kindiki also urged political leaders to separate political disagreements from religious gatherings, saying churches should remain spaces for worship rather than political confrontation.
“First, I want to thank the leadership of the Catholic Church. I urge my colleagues to distinguish matters of the church from matters of politics. When we enter a place of worship, we should talk about matters of worship and not matters of destruction.”
The Deputy President then highlighted government efforts to revive stalled infrastructure projects, citing road construction as one area where he said progress had been made.
He said contractors working on roads that had stalled had received payments, allowing them to resume construction.
“I want to talk about matters of development. The Mau Mau roads had stalled, but now we have paid the contractors of those roads that had stalled more than Sh177 billion, which the contractors have been paid, and they returned to the roads,” Kindiki stated.
The remarks placed emphasis on the government's development record as political debate intensifies ahead of the 2027 elections.
Kindiki's position in government has attracted attention as political parties and leaders allied to the administration begin positioning themselves for the next election.
The Deputy President was appointed by President Ruto in November 2024 after the Senate approved the president's nomination to replace Rigathi Gachagua, who was removed from office through an impeachment process.
The 2027 election is expected to generate increased debate over coalition arrangements, regional representation and the selection of presidential running mates.
Kindiki’s latest remarks signal his intention to remain focused on his role in government as the political contest takes shape, while highlighting infrastructure and other development projects as key areas of the administration’s agenda.