President William Ruto has praise his deputy Kithure Kindiki as the latter accompanied him on the tour of Chuka and Tharaka Nithi, this time as the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.

Speaking on Friday, April 4, 2025, during his ongoing tour in Mt Kenyan, Ruto thanked the people of the Tharaka Nithi region for facilitating his political collaboration with Kindiki.

Kindiki was initially set to contest the 2022 Meru gubernatorial race before he joined the Kenya Kwanza campaign team at the behest of the then United Democratic (UDA) Leader.

“Mimi nlikuja pa wakati wa uchaguzi mkitaka kuchagua huyu mungwana kama gavan wenu. Nikawaambia mnipatie huyu profesa nitembee naye. Baadaye akakuwa waziri wa usalama na sasa yeye ndio naibu wa rais. Nilikuwa najua ama sikuwa najua? Ruto posed.

“I want to thank you the people of Chuka and Tharaka Nithi. I came here during the elections when you wanted to elect him as governor and asked you to allow him to accompany me in my political journey. He went on to be a CS and today he is our Deputy President. Was i right or nor?” Ruto posed.

The president lauded his deputy as an amicable leader and a man focused on national cohesion and development.

“I’m grateful you allowed Prof. Kindiki to come and work with me in serving the nation. He is respectful, hardworking, and orderly,” Ruto added.

In a rather unforeseen twist of event, Kindiki rose to become the country’s third deputy president after emerging as the preferred choice for the DP position following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua in 2024.

In a swipe directed at the former Deputy Rigathi Gachagua whom he accused of fueling sectoral and divisive politics before his ouster, Ruto reminded the residents that Kindiki is the DP for the entire Kenya and not just his home area.

“The Deputy President is not a DP of Tharaka Nithi nor Mt Kenya nor Chuka here. He is a Deputy of the whole country,” he added.

On his part Kindiki, lauded the President for being a true friend to the people of his backyard and the larger Mt. Kenya region.

“The friendship between the President and the people of Tharaka Nithi, Meru and Mt. Kenya dates many years back. It didn’t start yesterday. It’s started when President was Minister, then Deputy President and now President. It will exist for a long time,” he said.

Other leaders president in the event thanked the president for settling on Kindiki as his assistant, terming him a leader who is open to all and welcoming.