MP Kagombe: Kindiki can’t deliver Mt Kenya to Ruto

Gatundu South Member of Parliament Gabriel Kagombe has expressed doubts about Deputy President Kithure Kindiki's ability to secure votes for President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election. Speaking to a local media station on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Kagombe questioned Kindiki's capacity to mobilize the Mount Kenya region behind Ruto, stating that even securing a portion of the region for the president would be a significant challenge.

"Okay, he cannot deliver the entire mountain or just one side of the mountain. He cannot deliver the mountain. No way," Kagombe emphasized.

Kagombe pointed to the Mbeere North by-election, where Kindiki played a significant role in the campaigns, but the UDA candidate won by just 300 votes. Kagombe highlighted that Mbeere North, located in Kindiki's home region, saw the UDA candidate prevail, suggesting that Kindiki's influence was limited even within his own constituency.

This narrow victory was contrasted with the outcome of the Ol Kalou by-election, where the opposition candidate secured a significant victory despite the state's efforts to sway voters with incentives. Kagombe noted that although residents accepted the incentives, they ultimately chose the opposition, demonstrating that material benefits alone were insufficient to guarantee political support for the government.

Kagombe drew attention to the contrasting outcomes in Mbeere North and Ol Kalou, suggesting that these differences should cast doubt on Kindiki's ability to deliver the broader Mount Kenya region to Ruto in 2027. He further inferred that Kindiki's political future within the ruling UDA party might be uncertain, stating that Ruto's willingness to retain Kindiki as his ally could be "cooked" due to these political realities.

Kagombe attributed his decision to leave the UDA to what he perceived as the political ground realities, aligning himself with the opposition to better serve his constituents' interests. Kagombe also hinted at uncertainties surrounding Ruto's potential willingness to retain Kindiki politically as the 2027 election approaches.