Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has hit back at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of arrogance and disrespect while rejecting his demand that he stop referring to him as his brother.
Kindiki spoke on Saturday, August 15, 2026, during the Mt Kenya East Elders Solemn Assembly in Nembure, Manyatta Constituency, Embu County, where elders from Njuri Ncheke, Kiama Kia Muembu and the Mwea Council of Elders gathered.
His remarks came days after Gachagua publicly told him not to refer to him as his brother, saying their relationship had changed after he left office.
Kindiki said he had been misunderstood by many people and warned Gachagua that his attitude would eventually have consequences.
“Unajua mimi watu wengi hawanielewi. Nasemanga watu wengi waliniona usiku, hawajaniona mchana. Hayo madharau uko nayo, Rigathi, I promise you, utapata aibu.”
The Deputy President then directly addressed Gachagua’s demand that he stop using the term brother.
“Hauwezi, kwanza kabisa wewe umesema ya kwamba nisikuite ndugu yako. And I want to tell you this, Mr. Rigathi, it is not upon you to tell me how I will call you. It is not your business. It is my business. Wewe sio utaamua vile nitakuita.”
Kindiki explained that he does not use the word brother because of political ties or personal affection, but because of the shared roots of their communities.
“Na sikuiti ndugu yangu kwa sababu nakupenda. Na sikuiti ndugu yangu kwa sababu na kuogopa. Nakuita ndugu yangu kwa sababu wazee, wa jamii zetu za Gikuyu, Meru na Embu, na Mbeere, waliniambia ya kwamba jamii yetu ni moja. Kwa hivyo wewe ni ndugu yangu by blood, not by choice.”
He went further, saying he had made an effort to maintain goodwill towards Gachagua despite what he described as his conduct.
“Kwa hivyo ukisikia na kuita ndugu yangu, sio ati nakuogopa, sio ati nakupenda sana, kwa sababu uko na madharau mingi. Mimi najaribu kukupenda, lakini uko na madharau mingi.”
Kindiki also accused Gachagua of showing disrespect towards senior leaders, other people and even those close to him.
“You don’t know what kind of a human being you are. Una dharau mkubwa wako, una dharau wale wengine, una dharau ndugu yako. Sasa wewe, how can the one man be the only right man in the whole world?”
The latest exchange follows remarks made by Gachagua during a church service in Kiambu County on August 9, 2026.
Gachagua said his relationship with Kindiki had deteriorated after he left the Deputy President’s office and questioned Kindiki’s claim that he had respected him while he was in office.
“I respected you when you were in the office; we fell apart when I got out and he told me to leave. When I left, were you not the one who removed me? Now let me ask you, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, how did you respect me?” Gachagua said.
He further told Kindiki to stop referring to him as his brother.
“Even if you are facing problems there, remain there; do not call me your brother.”
The remarks have now set the stage for a fresh public exchange between the two former and current occupants of the Deputy President’s office, with Kindiki making clear that he will continue to describe Gachagua as his brother based on their shared community ties.