Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has secured the backing of the Njuri Ncheke elders, who have endorsed President William Ruto’s re-election bid and declared that Kindiki should remain his deputy until the end of Ruto’s second term.
The elders, speaking at the Njuri Ncheke headquarters in Nchiru, Meru County, called on the Ameru community to unite behind the Ruto-Kindiki ticket and urged the wider Mt Kenya region to support an Ameru for the country’s second-highest office.
In a declaration adopted during an extraordinary meeting on Friday, the council recognised Kindiki as the distinguished son of the Ameru community and thanked Ruto for appointing him as his deputy.
The elders also invited President Ruto to the Nchiru shrine for a formal engagement with the council.
“This is the greatest honour any president has ever accorded to the Ameru people.”
The council made it clear that it would not support attempts to reopen the debate over the deputy presidency before the end of Ruto’s second term.
“Njuri Ncheke shall not keep quiet and let anyone take from us that which is rightfully ours. We shall fight tooth and nail to retain this office,” the elders said before crowning Kindiki as an elder.
The declaration comes as political competition intensifies in the Mt Kenya region, with allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua pushing for fresh negotiations over the region’s preferred candidate for the deputy presidency ahead of the 2027 General Election.
It also follows pressure from political figures within the broad-based administration for Ruto to consider opening up the deputy presidency for negotiations as parties position themselves for the 2027 polls.
Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma M'Ethingia said the Ameru community would not accept any attempt to replace Kindiki.
"We want the whole world to know that the office of the Deputy President is occupied; it is not vacant. Today, for the avoidance of doubt, we declare that Kenya's Deputy President is Kithure Kindiki,” he said.
“The only time anyone can discuss that office is in 2032 after President William Ruto has completed his term. Those saying they want power should know that power already has an owner, and that owner is Kithure Kindiki. That is our position as the Ameru community."
The governor's position was backed by the elders, who resolved to mobilise the Ameru community behind both Ruto and Kindiki ahead of the 2027 election.
"Njuri Ncheke strongly urges the Ameru people to stand firmly with our son Kithure Kindiki, and to overwhelmingly support His Excellency William Samoei Ruto," the declaration states.
Outgoing Njuri Ncheke chairman Linus Kathera called on leaders from Mt Kenya West to return the support the Ameru community has given presidents from the region over the years.
"Sisi na watu wa Mt. Kenya West ni ndugu... tumewaunga mkono tangu siku za Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki na Uhuru Kenyatta. Hata nao wakati huu watuunge mkono na washikilie mtoto wetu Kithure Kindiki," Kathera said.
The remarks loosely translate to: “We and the people of Mt. Kenya West are brothers. We have supported them since the days of Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta. Now it is their turn to support us and stand behind our son, Kithure Kindiki.”
Kathera said the Ameru had supported leaders from neighbouring counties for decades and that the community now wanted the wider Mt Kenya region to support Kindiki.
He said the community also hoped to eventually produce Kenya’s first president from Meru after Ruto’s tenure.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki endorsed by Njuri Ncheke elders in Meru, August 7, 2026.
PHOTO/DPCS
Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi said the Ameru community had fully committed itself to Ruto’s re-election and Kindiki’s continued tenure as deputy president.
"We support the re-election of President William Ruto next year and the continued tenure of Prof Kindiki as his deputy until 2032," Kiraitu said.
The elders further pledged to work with councils of elders from across Mt Kenya to consolidate support for the Kenya Kwanza administration.
They rejected calls for the region to be politically divided, insisting that the mountain should remain united.
“There is talk of splitting the mountain. As Njuri Ncheke we do not support the splitting of the mountain, we want one mountain, we have always been one people with our brothers from Mt. Kenya West and we wish to remain the same,” Kiraitu said.
Njuri Ncheke said it had maintained longstanding ties with Kiama Kia Ma, Embu elders and Mbeere elders in efforts to promote peace and leadership within the region.
The council said Mt Kenya had remained one political and cultural entity and pledged to engage leaders across the region in an effort to build support for Ruto and Kindiki ahead of the 2027 polls.
The elders also praised Governor Mutuma for restoring peace in Meru following years of political turmoil.
They commended elected leaders for lobbying the national government over insecurity, water shortages, roads, markets and the issuance of title deeds.
For Kindiki, the endorsement gives him fresh backing in his home region as political activity around the 2027 election continues to grow.
“We assure you that our development projects will be accelerated than before,” Kindiki said, citing Meru Level 5 hospital which is set for a budget boost.
The Deputy President assured the community that he would continue delivering on his mandate while calling for unity among leaders in Mt Kenya.
"I know there are people rivaling us politically, we cannot accept a situation where us leaders drive wedge between us."
Kindiki said he would reach out to leaders across Mt Kenya to seek agreement on a common course for the communities and build a united front in pushing for development.