Tag: DP Kithure Kindiki

Former Broad-Based Govt Supporter Makarina Lectures Kindiki on Why His Credibility in Mt Kenya is Eroding Amid SHA Fallout

Meru politician’s scathing critique of Deputy President’s inner circle follows personal healthcare ordeal

NAIROBI – A bitter fallout over Kenya’s struggling Social Health Authority (SHA) has escalated into a public confrontation between prominent Meru politician Michael Makarina and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s inner circle, with Makarina warning that the DP’s credibility in Mt Kenya is being systematically undermined by his own allies.

The controversy erupted after Makarina, a former staunch supporter of the broad-based government who famously championed the “System iko sawa” slogan, found himself abandoned by the SHA system during a medical emergency on July 15, 2025.

Despite being a platinum subscriber, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) failed to cover his hospital bill at Aga Khan University Hospital, forcing former DCI boss George Kinoti to intervene and clear the entire admission cost.

What began as criticism of the healthcare system has now morphed into a damning indictment of Kindiki’s political operation, with Makarina directly blaming the Deputy President’s associates for poisoning his brand in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.

The SHA controversy

Makarina has been undergoing treatment at Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi.

Makarina’s ordeal began when he suffered a mild stroke and was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital at midnight.

Despite his premium SHA subscription and regular monthly contributions, the much-touted health insurance system covered what he described as “peanuts” – an amount he claimed was equivalent to the cost of a single phone call.

“I was in pain, overwhelmed and weak. My wife was running up and down, trying to push things through SHA and SHIF. She tried. But nothing was moving,” Makarina recounted in his original Facebook post that sparked the controversy.

The situation was only resolved when Kinoti saw the post and immediately contacted Makarina’s wife, assuring her he would handle the entire hospital bill.

This act of personal intervention highlighted the gap between government promises and ground-level reality.

Mithamo Muchiri factor

The healthcare critique took a political turn when Mithamo Muchiri, described by Makarina as “the self-proclaimed blogger of the Deputy President,” attempted to defend the SHA system, claiming it was working well.

This prompted Makarina’s explosive response, in which he accused Muchiri and others in Kindiki’s circle of undermining the Deputy President’s standing in Mt Kenya.

“You are among the individuals who have made it difficult for Prof. Kithure Kindiki to stamp authority in Mt Kenya. Your arrogance, entitlement, and inflated self-importance have turned many away,” Makarina wrote in his latest Facebook post.

The Meru politician particularly took issue with what he termed Muchiri’s “dismissive attitude toward the suffering wananchi” and his attempts to “sanitize the government’s failures from your keyboard.”

A warning to Kindiki

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Health CS Aden Duale during the hand over of the National Police Service Hospital Level Four Hospital in Mbagathi, Nairobi on May 17, 2024. (Photo: MINA)

In an unprecedented public rebuke, Makarina directly addressed Deputy President Kindiki, warning him that his problems are internal and that his associates are building walls between him and the people.

“Your problems are internal. You have allowed these little gods around you to build walls between you and the people. Their disrespect, elitism, and contempt for the common mwananchi is slowly but surely eroding your credibility in Mt Kenya,” Makarina wrote.

The politician specifically warned against what he termed the “Tharaka Nithi elite clique” who believe leadership is their birthright, suggesting that such attitudes are costing the government popular support.

Makarina’s criticism carries significant weight given his previous role as a vocal supporter of government policies.

His transformation from a “System iko sawa” champion to a fierce critic mirrors broader public disillusionment with the Kenya Kwanza administration’s delivery on key promises.

The incident has broader implications for President William Ruto’s administration, particularly in Mt Kenya where maintaining political support remains crucial for the government’s stability. Makarina’s warning that the Deputy President’s credibility is being eroded by his own allies suggests deeper structural problems within the government’s political machinery.

Beyond the political drama, Makarina’s experience has reignited debates about Kenya’s healthcare reforms.

The Social Health Authority and SHIF were introduced as flagship reforms to provide universal healthcare coverage, replacing the previous National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

However, Makarina’s experience suggests significant implementation challenges. “SHA is not working. SHIF is a sweet story in press conferences, but a nightmare at the ground level,” he stated, directly linking healthcare delivery failures to the government’s declining popularity.

The controversy presents a test for both Kindiki and the broader government on how they handle criticism from within their own support base. Makarina’s public stance as someone who continues to support President Ruto while criticizing the Deputy President’s operation suggests fractures within the government’s political coalition.

The politician’s declaration that “we do not beg and we do not bargain for justice” and his commitment to “continue standing with the Kenyan people” indicates he may continue his public criticism campaign, potentially inspiring other government supporters to voice similar concerns.

July 17, 2025
Government Extravagance: DP Kindiki Splashing Sh100M Weekly As He Seeks Relevance

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s relentless countrywide cash distribution tours are raising serious questions about government spending priorities and accountability as Kenya grapples with economic challenges

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has transformed into Kenya’s biggest political spender, orchestrating a massive cash distribution operation that sees his team splash nearly Sh100 million weekly across the country in what critics describe as desperate attempts to buy political relevance and shore up support for the struggling Kenya Kwanza administration.

The money trail

In just one week, Kindiki has led 10 economic empowerment events, with his latest appearances in Machakos and Nyamira counties on Friday alone raising Sh20 million.

The Deputy President’s predictable formula has become a spectacle: he personally contributes Sh2 million at each event while presenting an additional Sh3 million from President William Ruto.

“Nimeleta mchango wangu wa shilingi milioni 2 na milioni 3 ya Rais” (I have brought my contribution of 2 million shillings and 3 million from the President), has become Kindiki’s signature line as he crisscrosses the country with bags full of cash.

The spending pattern reveals a systematic hierarchy of contributions that appears choreographed to demonstrate government largesse.

Investigation shows that the President leads with Sh3 million at almost every event, while his deputy delivers Sh2 million.

Parliament Speaker and Majority Leaders contribute at least Sh1 million per event, MPs fork out Sh100,000, and MCAs contribute Sh20,000.

Questionable mathematics

These astronomical contributions starkly contrast with the officials’ official salaries as set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.

President Ruto earns Sh1.4 million monthly, Kindiki receives Sh1.2 million, while MPs earn Sh784,000 and MCAs Sh154,000.

The mathematical impossibility of sustaining such donations from official salaries alone has sparked intense debate about the source of these funds.

The Deputy President, who has earned the moniker “Mr. Money Bags,” splashes at least Sh5 million every time he steps out for an empowerment programme, with his team collectively contributing close to Sh100 million weekly.

This expenditure dwarfs most counties’ development budgets and raises fundamental questions about government priorities.

Corruption allegations

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached and replaced by Kindiki, has emerged as the harshest critic of these spending sprees.

Speaking at a recent rally, Gachagua directly accused his successor of using public funds for political bribery.

“Ule Mr. Yes analeta pesa ya kuhonga nyinyi. Hiyo pesa mkule, hatuwezi zika ndovu na pembe” (That Mr. Yes is bringing money to bribe you. Eat that money, we cannot bury an elephant with its tusks), Gachagua declared, suggesting the funds are sourced from public coffers.

Kindiki has defended the programme, retorting: “Mimi nimekuja kuwahonga kweli? Hii ni pesa ya kusaidia wananchi” (Have I really come to bribe you? This is money to help citizens).

The exchange highlights the intensifying political battle between the two deputy presidents, with Gachagua positioning himself as a corruption fighter while Kindiki attempts to consolidate support through financial incentives.

Replacing banned harambees

President William Ruto.

These empowerment events appear designed to circumvent President Ruto’s ban on public harambees imposed a year ago.

While traditional fundraising was prohibited, these government-sponsored cash distributions have emerged as a more direct method of political patronage, eliminating the transparency that public harambees typically required.

The timing and geographical focus of these events, particularly in the Mt. Kenya region where Kenya Kwanza faces declining support, suggests a calculated political strategy rather than genuine development initiatives.

The lavish spending occurs against a backdrop of widespread economic hardship, with Kenyans struggling under heavy taxation, high cost of living, and reduced public services.

Critics argue that the government is engaging in “tokenism politics” – offering cash handouts instead of implementing sustainable economic policies.

Opposition voices have condemned the programme as a conduit for corruption, questioning not only the source of funds but also the lack of accountability mechanisms.

The Kenya Kwanza administration has been accused of prioritizing political survival over genuine economic development.

Government’s defense

Despite mounting criticism, the government has promised to continue and even expand the empowerment projects.

Kindiki has stated his intention to take the contributions “a notch higher,” suggesting even more extensive spending in the coming months.

Government officials defend the programme as supporting small and medium enterprises, with Kindiki claiming the administration has committed Sh28 billion to support SMEs through Sh50,000 grants.

However, critics argue that the high-profile cash distributions serve more political than economic purposes.

The programme raises serious constitutional questions about the separation of public and political funds.

With no clear audit trail or oversight mechanism, opposition leaders argue that taxpayers’ money is being used for political campaigns in violation of electoral laws and public finance management principles.

Legal experts have questioned whether such systematic cash distributions, particularly in regions where government support is waning, constitute vote-buying or abuse of office. The lack of transparency regarding fund sources only deepens these concerns.

As Kindiki promises to accelerate the programme with “faster, faster” implementation, the sustainability and legality of these spending sprees remain questionable.

With general elections still two years away, the current spending rate would require over Sh10 billion annually – funds that could alternatively address Kenya’s infrastructure, healthcare, and education challenges.

The Deputy President’s transformation into Kenya’s biggest political spender reflects a government under pressure, using financial inducements to maintain relevance in the face of growing public dissatisfaction.

Whether this strategy will secure long-term political support or simply drain public resources remains to be seen.

What is clear is that Kindiki’s Sh100 million weekly spending spree represents a new form of political extravagance that prioritizes short-term political gains over sustainable development, raising fundamental questions about governance, accountability, and the responsible use of public resources in contemporary Kenya.

June 14, 2025
32 Petitioners Challenge Kindiki’s Position as Deputy President, Seek Gachagua’s Reinstatement

A fresh legal battle has erupted over Kenya’s Deputy Presidency, with 32 petitioners filing court applications seeking to remove current Deputy President Kithure Kindiki from office and potentially reinstate his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua.

The petitioners have launched a two-pronged legal strategy that could plunge the country into a constitutional crisis.

First, they are seeking the recusal of the three-judge bench currently hearing consolidated petitions related to Gachagua’s impeachment, citing bias against Justices Eric Ogolla, Anthony Mrima, and Fridah Mugambi.

Simultaneously, a separate group of five co-petitioners is pushing for Gachagua’s immediate reinstatement based on what they argue is a still-valid court order from October 18, 2024.

Justice Mwongo of the Kerugoya High Court had originally suspended the Senate’s resolution to impeach Gachagua and blocked the appointment of his replacement.

The petitioners’ argument hinges on a recent Court of Appeal ruling that declared the three-judge bench improperly constituted by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu.

According to lawyer Stanley Matiba, representing the petitioners, this ruling renders “all resulting proceedings, including the lifting of Justice Mwongo’s orders and the swearing in of Prof Kindiki void ab initio (from the beginning).”

This legal interpretation suggests that if the original Kerugoya court order suspending Gachagua’s impeachment remains valid, then Kindiki’s appointment and subsequent swearing-in as Deputy President would be constitutionally invalid.

The legal maneuvering raises the unprecedented possibility of Kenya having two individuals with claims to the Deputy Presidency simultaneously – a scenario not contemplated in the Constitution.

The petitioners argue that Kindiki’s continued occupation of the office “undermines the authority of the judiciary, contravenes the Constitution, and erodes public confidence in the rule of law.”

David Mathenge, a ward representative in Kirinyaga County, along with four other co-petitioners, insists that Gachagua’s potential reinstatement transcends personal preference and serves the broader interest of upholding judicial authority and constitutional order.

Notably, Gachagua himself has indicated he is no longer pursuing reinstatement.

Rigathi Gachagua.

His legal team informed the court that he now prefers to have his impeachment quashed entirely and seeks compensation, including unpaid salaries and benefits for the remainder of his term.

However, the five co-petitioners argue that the decision to return to office is not Gachagua’s alone to make, emphasizing that his reinstatement is necessary to preserve the sanctity of court orders.

The 32 petitioners are demanding that the current three-judge panel recuse themselves, arguing they are “irredeemably biased” due to their role in allowing Kindiki’s unconstitutional swearing-in.

They seek an expanded bench of at least five judges to handle what they describe as novel constitutional issues, including allegations that Kindiki was appointed without proper parliamentary vetting and questions about whether he properly resigned from his previous position as Cabinet Secretary for Interior.

The legal drama unfolded as the court reconvened to reorganize hearings of consolidated petitions after Chief Justice Martha Koome regularized the composition of the judicial panel.

The cases now involve complex questions about judicial authority, constitutional succession, and the proper procedures for removing and replacing senior government officials.

The outcome of these proceedings could have far-reaching implications for Kenya’s constitutional order and the independence of the judiciary, particularly regarding the enforcement of court orders involving high-level political disputes.

As the legal process continues, Kenya faces the unusual situation where the legitimacy of its second-highest office remains under intense judicial scrutiny, with competing legal interpretations threatening to create an unprecedented constitutional standoff.

June 2, 2025
Gachagua Calls For Boycott of Mt Kenya Musicians Who Visited Kindiki’s Home, Demands Apology Calling Them ‘Traitors’

Former Deputy President threatens economic sabotage against artists who met with current DP at Karen residence

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on Mount Kenya musicians who recently visited Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at his Karen residence, branding them “traitors” and demanding they apologize to Kenyans or face a comprehensive boycott.

Speaking during a church service at AIPCA Kihoya in Kangema Constituency, Murang’a County on Sunday, May 25, 2025, Gachagua escalated his rhetoric against the artists, threatening to organize economic sabotage that would effectively end their careers.

“We are very sad that some of our artistes have become traitors for the community. They were invited at Karen by Mr Moneybags and told to come and lie to you that SHA (Social Health Authority) is working,” Gachagua declared to the congregation.

The former Deputy President claimed he had consulted with community elders before making his public pronouncement, adding weight to his ultimatum.

“I sat down with elders and they told me to announce that the artistes should apologise,” he stated.

Gachagua outlined a multi-pronged approach to pressuring the musicians, targeting their income streams and public platforms:

“If they do not apologise, we should stop listening to their music. They should also not be invited to the entertainment joints where they go. If club owners call such a person, customers should shift to another place. Also, unfollow them on social media,” he instructed his supporters.

The threat extends beyond individual consumer choices to organized economic warfare against entertainment venues that would host the artists.

This represents an unprecedented escalation in Kenya’s political discourse, where a former high-ranking official is openly calling for coordinated economic sabotage.

Gachagua’s anger stems from what he perceives as the musicians’ willingness to endorse government policies during their meeting with Kindiki.

He accused them of being instructed to “tell us that roads are being built and education is running smoothly” in exchange for financial incentives.

The former Deputy President also made serious allegations against Kindiki personally, claiming his “hands were filled with blood” due to his role as Interior Cabinet Secretary during the 2024 Gen Z protests, when several demonstrators were killed by police.

The Karen meeting

The controversial meeting took place at Kindiki’s Karen residence, where the Deputy President hosted various musicians and producers primarily from the Mount Kenya region.

According to official reports, the discussion focused on the economic potential of the creative sector, supportive policies, and intellectual property rights protection.

Among the notable attendees were popular musicians Samuel Muchoki Ndirangu (Samidoh), Ben Githae, Karangu Muraya, Jose Gatutura, DJ Fatxo, and Ngaruiya Junior. Several MPs from the region also attended, pledging legislative support for the creative economy.

Backlash

Samidoh and DP Kindiki during the meeting with Mt Kenya musicians.

The political fallout has been swift and brutal for the musicians involved. Social media platforms erupted with criticism from fans who accused the artists of “selling out” and abandoning their supporters for political gain.

Samidoh, one of Kenya’s most popular Mugithi artists, issued an emotional public apology acknowledging the depth of anger directed at him.

“I am asking for your forgiveness,” he posted on social media.

“I have seen your anger over my visit to Karen. I’ve received thousands of messages, most of them filled with insults and hate, and it has left me deeply hurt.”

The artist revealed the personal toll of the controversy, “I am truly struggling, and this situation has pushed me towards depression.”

He explained that he believed the meeting was meant to promote Mount Kenya musicians rather than serve as a political endorsement.

Jose Gatutura also defended his attendance, emphasizing his role as an entertainer who serves fans across political divides.

“I have fans from both sides, and I’m supposed to entertain all without being choosy,” he wrote, clarifying that artists depend on gigs to make a living and that the meeting focused on government support for the music industry.

Unprecedented political weaponization

Gachagua’s call for boycotts represents a concerning development in Kenya’s political landscape, where entertainment and arts are being weaponized for political purposes.

The threat to organize consumer boycotts and pressure entertainment venues creates a dangerous precedent that could stifle artistic freedom and economic opportunities for creatives.

The controversy highlights the delicate position of artists in Kenya’s polarized political environment, where any engagement with political figures can be interpreted as endorsement and lead to severe backlash from opposing camps.

As this story continues to develop, it remains to be seen whether the musicians will issue the apologies Gachagua demands or whether they will resist what many view as political intimidation of the creative community.

The outcome could have lasting implications for the relationship between politics and entertainment in Kenya.

May 25, 2025