Kithure Kindiki Heckled in Nyeri as He Clashes with Gachagua Allies: “One Term” Chants Rock Othaya
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki found himself facing an angry crowd in Othaya, Nyeri County, where he was loudly heckled with chants of “One term!”, a slogan strongly associated with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s loyalists.
What was meant to be a peaceful event to launch the construction of the Othaya Modern Community Stadium quickly turned into a dramatic political showdown, exposing the growing tension between leaders allied to President William Ruto and those backing Gachagua in the Mt Kenya region.
Kindiki was received by a visibly hostile group of residents, some of whom had gathered outside the stadium even before his arrival.
Instead of cheering him on, the crowd erupted into loud jeers and chants, clearly sending a message of rejection. “One term! One term! One term!” they shouted repeatedly—a chant seen as a strong warning to Ruto’s allies, and a clear message that Gachagua’s support base in Nyeri remains solid.
Despite being from the Mt Kenya region himself, Kindiki faced open resistance from the crowd, which was seen as a bold show of strength by Gachagua’s faction. The tension in Othaya reflects the intensifying factionalism in the mountain, where political loyalty is increasingly being tested.
Kindiki Hits Back at Gachagua Without Naming Him
Unshaken by the hostility, Kindiki took to the podium and addressed the crowd with passion and clarity. In what was a thinly veiled jab at Rigathi Gachagua, he criticised what he termed as arrogance and divisive leadership. Although he didn’t mention names, his words pointed directly at Gachagua’s style of politics.
“I want to plead with leaders to treat one another with respect,” Kindiki said, mixing calm and firmness in his tone. “You can’t behave like you’re the only intelligent person, like you’re the only one who understands everything, and everyone else is stupid. You are not God—only God knows everything.”
Kindiki accused his political rival of using power to bully and belittle others, calling out the trend of attacking artists, fellow leaders, and anyone who offers a different opinion. “You are fighting everyone—musicians, politicians, anyone who disagrees with you.
How do you expect society to progress if only you are right and everyone else is wrong? We are all valuable, and each one of us has something to offer. Every human being matters in the eyes of God,” he emphasized.
A Calculated Move to Reassert Himself
Political analyst and governance expert Moses Nderitu, speaking to TUKO.co.ke, said Kindiki’s combative yet calculated response was both deliberate and necessary.
Nderitu explained that Kindiki’s bold stand was meant to show he is not a weak link in the Ruto-Gachagua rivalry. “This was not just about responding to heckling,” he said. “Kindiki was making it clear that he will not be sidelined.”
According to Nderitu, the deputy president used the moment to send a broader message about the type of leadership Mt Kenya deserves—one based on respect, cooperation, and humility.
“By talking about collective wisdom, humility, and tolerance, Kindiki was positioning himself as a different kind of leader compared to Gachagua’s confrontational approach. He is trying to shift the focus from political bullying to inclusive leadership,” Nderitu added.
The drama in Othaya has added fuel to the growing political divide within the mountain, showing that the power struggle in Mt Kenya is no longer just about loyalty to the president but also about leadership values and personal appeal.
Ruto Also Heckled in Other Counties
Kindiki is not the only top leader who has recently faced a hostile crowd. In February, President William Ruto himself was heckled during a rally in Isiolo County.
As he spoke about the impact of drug trafficking by foreign nationals, a group of young people shouted “uongo! uongo!”—Swahili for “lies”—dismissing his claims and disrupting his speech.
Despite his attempts to calm the crowd and explain his position, the heckling continued and made it difficult for him to proceed.
Three months later, another dramatic incident occurred in Migori County, where Ruto was struck by a flying shoe while addressing residents in Kuria East constituency.
He had just broken ground for the construction of a 298-unit affordable housing project in Kehancha when the shoe flew towards him. Two young men were arrested shortly after the incident.
However, a clearer video later emerged, showing that the attack may not have been deliberate. It appeared that one man, holding up his shoe like a camera to record Ruto, annoyed another man behind him who was also trying to film.
The second man slapped the shoe out of the way, causing it to fly in Ruto’s direction. After reviewing the footage, authorities released the two youths.
Mt Kenya Politics Turning Volatile
The heckling of Kindiki in Nyeri marks a new chapter in the political power play unfolding in Mt Kenya. As factions draw battle lines, leaders like Kindiki are now being forced to prove their political relevance and defend their vision in front of an increasingly divided and vocal public.
The unity that once held the region together appears to be cracking under the pressure of internal battles for dominance, style, and succession.
In this unfolding drama, it is clear that Mt Kenya’s political future will not be decided quietly. The region’s voters are watching closely—and speaking loudly.
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