Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has slammed his successor, Kithure Kindiki, for speaking prematurely about the Ol Kalou by-election before the burial of the area MP David Kiaraho.

Speaking during the requiem mass for the late MP, where both President William Ruto and Kindiki were present on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Gachagua described Kindiki’s comments as a mistake and a disservice to the Mount Kenya community.

According to Gachagua, it is a taboo in Mount Kenya for someone to speak about inheritance and succession before the deceased is buried. He emphasised that the Gikuyu community holds the dead in high regard and cannot discuss succession before the internment.

“Mimi nimeona professor kindiki unetukosea kama jamii, hii jamii tuko na heshima na mtu yeyote amabye amekufa na sisi hatuwezi ongea mambo ya uritji kabla hajazikwa Umefanya makosa huko tharaka kuobgelea mambo ya byelectoon kama kiaraho hajazikwa,” Gachagua said.

Old Kalou by-election

This comes days after Kindiki told the opposition that the Ol Kalou by-election would be a “forceful fight”, following the death of the MP after a long battle with cancer. He challenged Gachagua, stating that, just as it was in the Mbeere North by-election in 2025, the contest in Ol Kalou would be fiercely contested.

Political undertones surrounding the upcoming by-election have already begun to surface loudly, even before the burial of the late MP. Despite Gachagua’s stance, his fellow members of the United Opposition have also commented, saying they would not allow the government to win the seat, as was the case in Mbeere North and Malava.

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, speaking in a recent interview, challenged the government, saying that Ol Kalou would be a “forceful fight”.

Similarly, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa stated that, as was the case in Mbeere North and Malava, the United Opposition would approach the Ol Kalou by-election in a coordinated manner. According to him, they will meet, agree on a party candidate in the area, and throw the support of the other parties behind the chosen candidate.

Kiaraho’s burial

This was the first time Gachagua met face-to-face with the president and Kindiki during the burial of the late Kiaraho. Gachagua also took a jab at the president, urging him to find space to unite with the community, which he noted hates betrayal. He further appealed to locals not to heckle the president, allowing him to address the mourners and carry out his political activities in peace.