Kindiki mocks opposition with Goliath bible verse after by-elections
By Kenneth Mwenda, November 29, 2025Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has taken a swipe at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and the opposition, using a biblical reference to mock them following the Mbeere North by-election.
The post meant that no challenge is too big to overcome and that he is ready to confront anyone who stands against him in the region.
“And Goliath the Philistine roared: ‘I defy the armies of Israel today. Give me a man and let us fight each other…’” Kindiki posted on Facebook on Saturday, November 29, 2025, quoting 1 Samuel 17:10.
The post was a direct dig at Gachagua, who Kindiki had previously compared to Goliath during the by-election campaign. Kindiki had earlier stated that he would shame Gachagua during the contest, framing the race as a showdown between the two.
Kindiki backed UDA candidate Leonard Muriuki wa Muthende, while Gachagua supported Democratic Party candidate Newton Kariuki, popularly known as Karish.
The rivalry between the two leaders has been both public and intense. At one point, Kindiki openly mocked Gachagua’s door-to-door campaign, particularly his habit of visiting kitchens to share tea with women. He criticised the practice, saying it went against local cultural norms.
“Sasa wale ndugu zangu wanazurura hapa na kunywa chai kwa kitchen ya kina mama. Waambiwe kwanza sisi hapa, wazee wa sehemu hii, hatuingiangi kitchen,” he said. “Kwani unataka kuona uchi ya mamako? Unataka nini? Unafanya nini kitchen?”
Despite this, Kindiki’s camp adopted kind of similar door-to-door strategies to promote Wamuthende, showing the competitiveness of the race.
The by-election, held on November 27, saw Wamuthende narrowly defeat Karish by 494 votes, securing 15,802 votes against 15,308.
Criticism floods
After the by-election, more criticism was directed at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku openly told him to retire from active politics and focus on his family and livestock.
“Rigathi Gachagua enda nyumbani kwako. Mkae hapo na Pastor Dorcas. Mkunywe uji, vijana wako waoe, upate watoto wajukuu, ulee watoto wajukuu, pamoja na kondoo na mbuzi pale Wamunyoro. Uwache kusumbua watu wa hii eneo ya Mlima Kenya,” Ruku said.
However, several leaders also condemned the conduct of the by-election, criticising the government for abuse of state resources and unprecedented excesses. Jubilee Deputy Party Leader and former Interior CS Fred Matiangi described the scale of the campaign as far removed from the vision of Kenya’s founders.
“Yale mambo tumeona wiki hii ni ajabu. Ile vita tumepigana, ward ni village mbili. Watu wanaingia huko na mandege, madoido, arrogance, kutoa pesa kujigamba ati sisi ndio serikali,” Matiangi said speaking at the burial of Lenny Kivuti’s mother in Embu on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
“Hakuna kitu mtafanya. The founders of this nation must be turning in their graves to see what we are seeing now. Unprecedented abuse of state power, incredible misuse of public resources, and arrogance.”
He warned that if the current trends continued, Kenya risked heading in the wrong direction. He described the emerging politics as divisive, self-serving, and a threat to the nation:
“Hii siasa ni siasa ya kubomoa nchi. Mambo ya kiburi, kubeba mali ya serikali, pesa ya umma. Kujipiga kifua hapa kwa viongozi, kudharau maoni ya wananchi. Na kura za wananchi, ili sasa wewe uwe na nia yako. You have your way, whatever it takes,” Matiangi said.
The warning followed claims by former Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, who said the Mbeere North campaign had cost the government Ksh600 million. Linturi cited the deployment of 16 helicopters, Air Force resources, and military vehicles during the campaign.
“Kuja kupigana kutafuta kiti ya mbunge. 600 million has been spent kutafuta kiti ya MP. In normal circumstances, sababu nimeomba kura, we spend around 10 million. Kutafuta kiti ya whole constituency. 600 million means 60 members of parliament. Ile pesa imetumika hapa Mbeere North,” Linturi said.