Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has openly acknowledged that President William Ruto lacks sufficient support from Meru County, vowing to personally back the region behind the head of state.

While speaking during an event in Meru on Friday, September 19, 2025, the DP, who hails from the neighbouring Tharaka Nithi County, declared that he could not sit back and watch his boss struggle to garner support from Meru County when he serves as the country’s deputy president.

He further vowed to do everything within his reach to make sure that Ruto gets the support he deserves from the county, which overwhelmingly supported him for the high office in 2022.

“I cannot be a DP, and here in Meru, the President has no support. I will do everything possible to make sure he is respected and supported because we have seen what he has done and what he will do.” Kithure Kindiki said.

This comes at a time when the mountain has become hostile towards the current regime, after the impeachment of the former deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua.

Most of President Ruto’s have been heckled while trying to sell any government agenda to the people; the most recent incident involved Embu senator Alexander Mundigi, who was heckled at Moi Stadium during a movie premiere and tried to make ‘Tutam’ chants a slogan synonymous with the government. ‘Tutam’ is a counter to the ‘Wantam’ slogan that the opposition uses to send a message to the current regime that its term won’t extend after 2027.

Political dynamics in Mt Kenya

Instead, the region seems to be aligned behind the former deputy president; judging from the crowds he has been pulling and overall reception, it shows that he has managed to get into the hearts of the Mount Kenya people, who are known for voting as a bloc.

He recently came out to announce his interest in the top seat, saying that due to public demand, Kenyans have endorsed him as the most suitable candidate to unseat the president in 2027.

While speaking during a church service in Nyeri, he announced that he had gone back to his backyard to seek blessings before traversing the country in search of support.

He promised that during his campaigns he won’t overpromise Kenyans, but assured that he will restore the country to Kibaki’s standards should he cling to power.