"Leave the Detractors to Me" – DP Kithure Kindiki Urges President Ruto to End Public Spats with Opposition

DP Kithure Kindiki urges President William Ruto to stop insulting opposition rivals and focus on service. Read Kindiki's pledge to handle political critics.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 4:55 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

A Call for Executive Restraint

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has stepped in to de-escalate the increasingly combative political rhetoric coming from the presidency. During a rally in Bomet on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Kindiki urged President William Ruto to ignore his political detractors and return his full attention to governance. This plea follows a series of high-profile outbursts from the President during a recent tour of Western Kenya, where Ruto notably abandoned his "politics of development" mantra to deliver a barrage of insults directed at opposition leaders.

The Western Kenya Outburst

The friction peaked in Cheptais, Bungoma County, where President Ruto delivered what many observers described as uncharacteristically fiery remarks. The President labeled his rivals as "murderers, frauds, scammers, and swindlers," justifying the tone by claiming that opposition leaders had provoked him through persistent disrespect. According to political analysts, the shift from commissioning development projects to hurling personal insults signaled a significant rise in political temperatures within the country, prompting Kindiki's intervention to preserve the President’s statesmanlike image.

The Deputy President as the "Fireman"

Kindiki’s strategy involves shifting the burden of political warfare away from the Head of State. “I have asked my boss to calm down. These people are insignificant compared to him; he should leave it to the ‘fireman’ and others,” Kindiki stated. By volunteering to lead the counter-attacks personally, Kindiki aims to provide the President with "political cover," allowing Ruto to remain above the fray of daily partisan bickering. Kindiki emphasized that the administration would no longer tolerate lectures from leaders who he claims failed in their previous roles when entrusted with public service.