Deputy President Kindiki Vows to Defend His Position Amid 2027 Running Mate Speculations

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has firmly dismissed claims that he could be ousted from his position as the country’s second-in-command, amid ongoing speculation about President William Ruto’s choice of running mate for the 2027 General Election.

Addressing over 15,000 United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots officials in Irunduni, Tharaka Nithi County, on August 21, 2026, Kindiki declared that any attempt to remove him from office would be futile.

“I am the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya by the grace of God. Do you think anyone can remove me from this seat? That is impossible,” Kindiki said emphatically.

He drew parallels with President Ruto’s own experience during the final years of the Jubilee administration when attempts to remove Ruto from the deputy presidency failed despite political tensions with then-President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Our president was challenged but those who tried to remove him failed. We stood firm until the end,” Kindiki recalled.

The Deputy President also referenced the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in October 2024, noting that such removals affected only minor officials and that removing a sitting Deputy President is unprecedented and unlikely.

Kindiki’s comments come as political parties and leaders intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with the composition of President Ruto’s ticket remaining a focal point of national discourse.

During the gathering, Kindiki lauded the UDA polling centre officials as the party’s frontline defenders, urging them to champion the government’s record since it took office in August 2022. He tasked them with communicating achievements in economic stabilization, agriculture, education, healthcare, job creation, rural electrification, and sports development.