Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has rebuked Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, urging him to respect Kikuyu cultural traditions and suspend political talk around the impending Ol Kalou by-election until the late MP David Njunguna Kiaraho is buried.

Speaking in Nyandarua on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, when he visited the family of the late Olkalou MP, Gachagua said it was culturally inappropriate to discuss succession before the deceased is laid to rest.

Gachagua emphasised that among the Kikuyu community, it is considered disrespectful to engage in conversations about replacing a leader before burial rites are completed.

“We cannot talk about by-elections when Kiaraho has not been buried. Sisi na desturi zetu na mzetu kama jamii ya wakikuyu, hatuwezi rithi mtu ambaye hajazikwa. We cannot discuss the replacement of David Kiaraho before he is buried,” Gachagua said.

He called on leaders, particularly those from the Mt Kenya region, to uphold these traditions and avoid politicising a period meant for grief and reflection.

Gachagua lectures Kindiki

In a pointed attack, Gachagua accused Kindiki of abandoning cultural values and adopting what he termed “bad manners”, which he linked to President William Ruto’s political style.

“Nimeona Jana huyu Saprano akipiga kifua ati ooh, nitakuwa huko Olkalou, ati nitaona kivumbi. Wewe Saprano, please, I know you have learnt bad manners from Ruto. Because you are our son, you know our traditions and customs as the people of Mt Kenya, we don’t discuss the inheritance of anybody before he is buried. Those are our ways. Sasa hii tabia umefundishwa na Ruto ni ya nini. Wewe tulia. Hold your horses. Let us bury Kiaraho,” Gachagua said, in reference to remarks made by the Deputy President indicating readiness for a political showdown in the by-election.

He urged Kindiki to “hold his horses” and allow the family and constituents of the late MP time to mourn before launching into campaign rhetoric.

Kindiki’s remarks

Gachagua’s remarks come just hours after Kindiki launched a scathing attack on him, signaling a looming political battle in the Ol Kalou constituency.

The Deputy President had expressed confidence in defeating Gachagua-backed candidates, referencing past electoral encounters.

“We have a by-election coming up in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua; we will meet with that man. We will deal with him squarely, and that is where respect will start reigning,” Kindiki said.

His comments followed the opposition’s declaration that they would approach the mini-poll as a united front, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest.

The Ol Kalou parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of MP David Njunguna Kiaraho at a Nairobi hospital, triggering preparations for a by-election expected to draw intense political interest.

Leaders across the divide have already begun positioning themselves, underscoring the constituency’s growing significance ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The exchange between Gachagua and Kindiki highlights escalating political tensions within the Mt Kenya region, with rival factions seeking to assert influence in a key voting bloc.

While Gachagua insists on observing cultural norms before political engagement begins, Kindiki’s camp appears eager to capitalise on the upcoming by-election as a test of political strength.

As the region mourns one of its leaders, the clash signals that the Ol Kalou race could evolve into a symbolic battleground for control and influence in central Kenya politics.