Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is quietly building a grassroots political network across Mt Kenya amid the sustained onslaught by several quarters angling for his seat in 2027.
The DP is combining party mobilisation, meetings with community elders and development tours as the battle for the region's political loyalty gathers pace.
A review of his engagements between September 4 and October 10 reveals a sustained campaign to strengthen his presence across the region and checkmate former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The programme has taken Kindiki across Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Kirinyaga, Kiambu, Murang’a and Nyeri counties.
It is characterised by meetings targeting United Democratic Alliance polling centre officials, community elders, local politicians and residents.
The strategy is to use his position in government to defend President William Ruto's development record, while building a political network capable of delivering grassroots support ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Deputy President has combined public rallies with meetings involving party officials, inspections of government projects and engagements with community leaders, maintaining contact with local political networks.
The approach comes as Ruto's new allies intensify their demands ahead of the next election, putting Kindiki's position and the balance of power within Mt Kenya politics under scrutiny.
Kindiki began the period on September 4 at Kinoru Stadium in Meru, where he met 30,000 UDA polling centre officials.
Eight days later, he met more than 15,000 polling centre officials from Embu county at an event in Manyatta.
The two gatherings stand out in his itinerary because they focused directly on the party's grassroots structures rather than development projects alone.
Polling centre officials are an important link between political parties and voters, particularly during campaigns when parties seek to identify supporters, mobilise residents and coordinate election day activities.
By engaging the officials in Meru and Embu, Kindiki was reaching into the party structures that could prove critical in the next election.
He has also used public meetings to highlight the administration's record in agriculture, education, health, roads, housing and employment.
His message has included lower fertiliser prices, higher milk prices and teacher recruitment, presenting the government's programmes as evidence of its commitment to the region.
The challenge is whether the development message and party mobilisation can translate into durable political support beyond meetings attended by the Deputy President.
SURPASSING MT KENYA EAST
Kindiki's outreach has increasingly extended into Mt Kenya West.
On September 18, the Deputy President travelled to Mwea, Kirinyaga county, where he inspected the Kangiciri–Karira Mission Hospital Road and Karira Bridge, commissioned the Mwea Huduma Centre and addressed residents alongside area MP Mary Maingi and grassroots leaders.
A day later, he attended a gathering at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu county involving elders from the Gikuyu, Embu, Mbeere and Ameru communities.
According to his diary, more than 30,000 elders from 11 counties attended the meeting. The councils resolved to support the government and promote community and national unity.
The gathering gave Kindiki a platform to engage community leaders beyond his immediate political base and advance the government's unity message.
But the political significance of the meeting will depend on whether such endorsements translate into sustained mobilisation at the local level.
The Deputy President has also made repeated visits to Kiambu and Murang’a, counties that will be important in determining the direction of Mt Kenya politics.
On September 23, he inspected the Bombo–Gwa Thamaki road and Gakoigo Stadium in Maragua, Murang’a county.
The 16km road is being upgraded at a reported cost of Sh1.1 billion, while the stadium is being built at a cost of Sh900 million.
He was accompanied by Maragua MP Mary Wamaua, Kangema MP Peter Kihungi and nominated MP Sabina Chege.
Such engagements bring the Deputy President into contact with elected leaders who can help connect the government's development agenda with local political interests.
Two days later, he visited Chaka in Kieni, Nyeri county, where he inspected township roads and addressed residents alongside Senator Wahome Wamatinga and other county leaders.
He highlighted plans to upgrade 775km of roads in Nyeri at a cost of Sh45 billion, alongside markets, housing and electricity projects.
On September 29, Kindiki returned to Mathira, Gachagua's former parliamentary constituency, to inspect the Gatiki–Gathugu–Mung’etho road and address residents at Thuthwa Grounds.
The visit placed him in one of the region's politically sensitive constituencies, where the former Deputy President retains a significant political association.
Kindiki's message centred on the government's road programme, with promises to improve transport, ease the movement of farm produce and create employment through construction.
His presence in Mathira also demonstrated the effort to take the administration's message directly into areas where its political support cannot be assumed.
GOODIES GALORE
Roads, markets, sports facilities and agricultural projects have provided the other pillar of Kindiki's overtures.
On September 17, he inspected construction at Maua Modern Market and Nyambene Level 5 Hospital in Meru before addressing a rally in Maua town.
In Tharaka Nithi, he inspected the Mukothima–Gatunga road and the Kithaga–Matiri–Kamaradi road project, which the government says will improve farmers' access to markets.
The itinerary also included the Gitoro–Gitimene–Kiirua TTI–Kirachene road and a public meeting at Gitimene Market in Buuri.
In Nyeri, Kindiki inspected the Mau Mau roads in Tetu, Ruring’u Stadium and market projects on October 1.
He said Ruring’u Stadium was 70 per cent complete, while the Nyeri Modern Market was being built at a cost of Sh324 million to accommodate 750 traders.
The following day, he flagged off nine milk coolers intended to support 21,000 dairy farmers in Kiambu county and addressed residents in Limuru.
The programme was presented as part of efforts to reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmers' earnings.
His engagements continued in Kiambu on October 5 and 6, when he inspected market and road projects in Lari and Thika Town before visiting the Kenya Medical Training College campus in Karuri, Kiambaa.
On October 8, he inspected the Jogoo Kimakia–Kigio–Kirwara road in Murang’a and the Ithanga Market project at Kaguku, where he said progress stood at 17 per cent.
He directed the Housing Ministry to take corrective action to ensure completion within three months.
A day later, he launched the Sh293 million Kinyona–Karinga Irrigation Project in Kigumo, expected to serve 1,500 households and support year-round farming on 750 acres.
Political analyst Steve Ngari said the tours had given Kindiki a platform to promote the government's infrastructure programme, while maintaining contact with local political leaders.
The combination of development projects and political meetings allows the Deputy President to engage residents on immediate economic concerns, while strengthening his links with local leaders.
