How Kindiki has turned Irunduni rural home into a political fortress

Musician Sir Robin and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in Irunduni village in Tharaka Nithi county on August 20, 2025 /DPCS

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has converted his modest Irunduni village home into a formidable political fortress that is reshaping grassroots engagement in Mt Kenya politics.

Over seven intensive weeks, the property has hosted an unprecedented number of delegations from women leaders and sports officials to artists and students.

In a remarkable transformation of rural political strategy, all the groups bypassed traditional political structures in favour of direct dialogue with the country’s second-in-command.

The once-tranquil homestead now buzzes with weekly gatherings that have drawn more than 20,000 visitors from across Meru, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi counties.

The events have created what political analysts are calling a "new model of citizen engagement" that would go a long way to strengthening Kindiki's grassroots network.

“The Deputy President appears to have more credibility. He is the appropriate person to sell the agenda. He has a future to build,” Prof Macharia Munene, a don at USIU, said.

Home gatherings have been politicians’ go-to strategy.

President William Ruto made a name by hosting delegations in Sugoi. Raila Odinga also recharges his grassroots by hosting delegations at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo.

The DP’s approach represents a shift from exclusive conventional political gatherings, as was the case with his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua.

Unlike the exclusive, politician-heavy ‘Wamunyoro’ meetings, the Irunduni gatherings are supercharged engagements targeting specific demographic sectors that form the backbone of rural folk.

The DP has hosted 3,000 grassroots women leaders from Meru county, 5,000 sports officials and athletes across three counties, and 4,000 university students from Tharaka Nithi.

Some 5,000 artists and creative industry players, and 3,000 small-scale traders have all been welcomed to the DP's homestead.

Each of the diverse delegations receives tailored messaging while hearing updates on government initiatives relevant to their interests.

“It is because charity begins at home,” Kindiki told sportsmen and women from the three counties of his backyard, indicating he’d hold similar engagements across the country.

In a telling departure from tradition, the DP has deliberately excluded elected officials from these intimate gatherings, creating a direct link with citizens without intermediaries.

Insiders say the approach has allowed him to receive "raw information on citizens’ concerns and their proposed solutions" while positioning himself as the primary conduit for development in the region.

The meetings serve dual purposes, being listening tours and platforms for announcing government initiatives.

During sessions with women leaders, Kindiki highlighted how six markets are under construction in Tharaka Nithi county, with another six planned.

He also highlighted how rural electrification funding has tripled from Sh400 million to Sh1.2 billion, a move geared towards countering anti-Ruto propaganda.

Gachagua has faced criticism, including from the DP, for "misleading people about the government's performance" after leaving power.

“By maintaining direct grassroots connections, Kindiki appears to be building insulation against potential political rivals,” Prof Charles Nyambuga, a political commentator from Maseno University, noted.

Beyond political messaging, the Irunduni gatherings have been used as accountability mechanisms for tracking government projects.

Kindiki has used these sessions to provide detailed updates on infrastructure initiatives, including the redesign of the Nithi Bridge.

It was there that he announced Sh7 billion has been secured for its construction, and the creation of fresh produce markets across the region.

“I will not let you down. My work is to assist the President. I will work day and night, and that is why you see me everywhere in the country.”

The DP has emphasised tangible outcomes, telling attendees that he also has to serve other parts of the country by virtue of his position.

“The President is president of Kenya, so is the Deputy President…the work I have been assigned is for all Kenyans, and it doesn’t mean Tharaka Nithi will be left behind,” Kindiki said.

Some observers hold that the strategic location of these meetings in Tharaka Nithi, historically considered the underdeveloped periphery of Mt Kenya politics, is symbolic.

They opine that they elevate the county's status while positioning Kindiki as a regional champion and a neutral arbiter in the highly charged competition for the region’s kingpin. He has dismissed the kingpin politics.

Regardless, the DP has declared that he will "defend Mt Kenya against incitement" and not allow "importation of violence into the region".

Political commentator Pius Kinuthia says the delegations and messages resonate deeply in areas that have witnessed recent political unrest.

“The DP has taken over Mt Kenya effortlessly. He knew which buttons to press and aligned with the Mt Kenya people’s aspirations,” he tweeted after the artiste’s meeting.

This regional consolidation comes amid heightened political tensions, with the DP openly criticising what he terms "tribalists with no agenda for Kenyans".

“He is gaining more ground because of the approach he has taken. The DP has embraced the politics devoid of hate, tribal bigotry, like we were being accustomed to in the past,” Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri said.

To pundits, the Irunduni meetings effectively create a grassroots network that could serve as a foundation for political mobilisation.

It is envisioned they could potentially alter the balance of power within the Mt Kenya region and lay the ground for the DP’s 2032 ambitions.

The DP has hinted at this, telling attendees that "by the next election, I will have lobbied and delivered projects in every constituency".

He also emphasised that "this region [Mt Kenya] must accrue the benefits of having a Deputy President", statements that position him as both a national leader and local benefactor.

The Irunduni gatherings transcend mere ceremonial events, but are carefully structured policy dialogues.

Meetings with creative industry professionals included discussions on dismantling "cartels that have undermined the potential of good earnings for artists,” with Kindiki vowing to replicate successes seen in tea and coffee sector reforms.

Similarly, sessions with sports officials detailed concrete government investments, including stadium construction in Kakamega, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Meru, Embu, Kitui, Kirinyaga and Kwale, plus the ongoing development of 38 sports academies.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The transformation of a rural homestead into a political nerve centre demonstrates how effectively physical spaces can be leveraged to build influence. What began as a series of local meetings has evolved into a sophisticated strategy that blends grassroots intimacy with national vision, potentially redefining how leadership is exercised in the country’s competitive political landscape. The Irunduni fortress stands not as a barrier but as a bridge, connecting the little-known village to the nation, and a leader to his people.