Mt Kenya's political class is making it clear that it wants to keep the deputy presidency when President William Ruto seeks re-election in 2027. Over the past week, a string of leaders from both sides of the mountain have publicly backed Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to stay on as running mate. Some have gone further and framed him as Ruto's successor in 2032. At the same time, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has openly signalled her own interest in the job, opening a contest within the region.

'Kumi ya Kindiki'

Kindiki's allies have started promoting a "Kumi ya Kindiki" slogan (Swahili for "Kindiki's ten"), which points to a Kindiki presidency after a possible Ruto exit in 2032, The Star reported on Sunday.

Former Kiambu governor and ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said in Ruiru on Tuesday, October 13, that he was setting aside his own presidential ambitions to support Kindiki. "We must ignore petty politics, unite behind Kindiki and support the government," he said, according to The Star.

Former Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria also backed Ruto's re-election and Kindiki's leadership, saying, "I cannot join the opposition, this is our government." Thika Town MP Alice Ng'ang'a, Kiambaa MP Njuguna Kawanjiku and nominated MP Sabina Chege have made similar calls. Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku told a church congregation in Kiambu that the community should unite behind the Deputy President.

Speaking in Kiambu on October 13, Kindiki urged residents to support Ruto's second term and then turned to his own future. After referring to other leaders' talk of two terms, he asked the crowd, "what about me?" The crowd responded with chants of "four terms", the paper reported.

The endorsements build on earlier backing from Mt Kenya East. In August, elders from Meru, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Kirinyaga and Isiolo met in Embu and endorsed Kindiki as Ruto's 2027 running mate. They also backed him to become the first president from Mt Kenya East, Citizen Digital reported at the time.

Waiguru enters the conversation

Not everyone in the region is waiting for Kindiki. Speaking in Kirinyaga on October 9, Waiguru said she was positioning herself for national leadership, telling supporters "Niko kwa ile meza" (I am at that table), Citizen Digital reported. She ruled out running for the Kirinyaga Senate seat and endorsed her county executive Calvert Njeru for it. She also said she would not join Gachagua's camp. "Uhuru said he will rule for 10 years and Ruto will rule for 10 years. I'm still where Uhuru left me," she said.

At a women's leadership forum on October 13, Waiguru declared her interest in the deputy presidency in 2027 and said she intends to run for president in 2032, according to The Star. She argued that women should push for a place in high-level political negotiations rather than wait to be invited. The paper noted there is no indication that she has the backing of the President or UDA.

Same region, one seat

Political analyst Daniel Orogo told The Star that the contest is complicated because both Waiguru and Kindiki come from Mt Kenya. That raises questions about regional balance and succession within Ruto's camp.

The bigger complication is ODM. Under Oburu Oginga, the party has said the deputy presidency is its minimum condition for backing Ruto in 2027. Orogo warned that meeting that demand could raise questions about Kindiki's future and anger Mt Kenya leaders who expect the region to keep the seat.

There is also dissent within the mountain. Kikuyu Council of Elders chairman Wachira Kiago rejects Kindiki as the region's spokesman and says former President Uhuru Kenyatta remains its leader. Analyst Geofrey Minodi cautioned that early succession talk could create tension in the ruling coalition and that elders' endorsements do not bind the whole region.

Ruto has not formally named a running mate. Kindiki has maintained that the seat is not vacant, and UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar has said the Deputy President remains the party's designated running mate.

Photos: Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (The Star/DPCS); Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru (Citizen Digital).