Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed his successor, Kithure Kindiki’s continued “fire si fire” and “noma si noma” slogans, terming them as nonsense.

This came during an interview with Northern Eastern local media stations on Thursday, January 22, 2026, where the former DP went bare-knuckle against Kindiki, slamming him for maintaining silence while drought is ravaging the North.

He said that the Deputy President should have convened meetings with leaders from the region to address the drought situation that has persisted for months.

Gachagua stated that instead of the second head of state dealing with the drought crisis, he is busy advancing his “fire si fire”, “noma si noma”, and “mbegwese” slogans, which have become synonymous with Kindiki.

Kindiki normally uses the phrases to express his political prowess and to proclaim President William Ruto’s re-election in 2027.

“Kindiki anazunguka hapa akisema sijui fire si fire, noma si noma, sijui mbegwse mambo ya ujinga,” Gachagua stated.

Diversion of relief food

He went ahead to take issue with Kindiki, saying that relief food meant for such drought situations is instead being diverted.

According to Gachagua, instead of being used in Northern Kenya, where it is highly needed, the food is being supplied to Mt Kenya regions such as Kinangop to advance the government’s political clout, even though those areas are not facing similar hardship like the north.

He continued to take aim at the government for its slow response to the drought situation in Northern Kenya, saying that President William Ruto ought to have declared the drought a national disaster to attract donor funding, but the government, according to Gachagua, has remained mum.

“Ile chakula mchele na maharagwe kuliko ipelekwe Garissa kuliko ipelekwe Wajir, Kindiki anapeleka Mt Kenya, kuhonga watu,  unapelekea watu wa Kinangop ambayo imejaa chukula ati unapelekea hao mchele na maharagwe,” Gachagua said.

He further stated that during his tenure as deputy president before his ouster, he never allowed drought in the North to go beyond a month. However, in his successor’s era, droughts have become the order of the day, with Kindiki, according to Gachagua, busy engaging in politics instead of governance.

He added that during his tenure, he also made visits to the region to assess the escalating situation in the North, in stark contrast to Kindiki.