The political future of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has taken center stage, with Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana coming out in his defense, vowing that the ruling coalition will fight tooth and nail to keep him in office.
This comes amid growing speculation that Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is being positioned to be President William Ruto’s running mate in 2027 Presidential Election, claims that Mungatana has dismissed.
Speaking during an interview on Morning Café, Senator Mungatana dismissed the speculation, insisting that President Ruto’s repeated praise of Mbadi should not be misread as a signal of intent to replace Kindiki.
“The fact that the president is praising Mbadi, the fact that he is happy with his performance as Treasury Secretary, does not mean that he wants him to be Deputy President,” he said.
Mungatana drew a distinction between professional performance and suitability for the second-highest office, arguing that excelling in one role does not automatically qualify a person for another.
“The fact that you are performing very well as a footballer does not mean that you can be elected as a member of parliament from your area. You could be a very famous radio presenter, but you will not be elected even as an MCA,” he stated.
Central to Mungatana’s argument was the concept of personal chemistry between a president and his deputy, what he repeatedly referred to as “personal rhyming.”
He argued that the deputy presidency demands more than competence, requiring a deep personal bond built over years of shared struggle.
“You want a person that you rhyme with. You want a person that when you leave the office, you are sick, you have traveled, that person just carries on whatever it is that you are doing in that office,” he explained.
On whether President Ruto could find that chemistry from within ODM, the senator was blunt. “He can’t, because they were not in the fight together. Where do you get personal rhythm from a person you have never worked with before?” he posed.
Mungatana also spoke of Kindiki’s relationship with members of parliament and senators, contrasting it with his predecessor.
“We feel he is approachable. He listens to us as senators. This was totally different in the previous Deputy President, where even if you wanted something done quickly, you can’t reach the president,” he said.
He was equally emphatic that the push to retain Kindiki would not be passive.
“We are going to fight for Kindiki to stay as Deputy President,” he declared, reaffirming that support for the current Deputy President within the ruling coalition remains firm and unwavering.
