Kindiki Defended As Ruto’s Running Mate In 2027 Amid Pressure Following UDA’s Ol Kalou Loss

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has strongly dismissed mounting calls for President William Ruto to drop Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as his 2027 running mate, following the ruling party’s bruising defeat in the Ol Kalou by-election.

Speaking during an interview on Hot96 on Sunday, July 19, Ruku fiercely defended Kindiki’s track record, arguing that pinning the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) loss on the DP is entirely misplaced and does not reflect his national political standing.

“I have said the issues which may have led to the loss in Ol Kalou do not in any way portray that it is because of the DP,” Ruku insisted. “He has not cut himself as a leader of a certain community. He is a nationalist just as Ruto.”

According to the Cabinet Secretary, Kindiki has successfully brought administrative stability to the government by tuning out political noise and focusing squarely on implementing the Kenya Kwanza development agenda.

The debate over the 2027 presidential ticket has intensified after Rigathi Gachagua-backed Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) handed UDA a crushing defeat in Ol Kalou. DCP’s Sammy Kamau secured a landslide victory with 35,440 votes against UDA candidate Samuel Nyagah’s meager 5,450 votes—a staggering loss that occurred despite the government launching multi-million shilling development projects in the area just days before the ballot.

While Kindiki did not actively hit the campaign trail in the constituency, political analysts note that the loss raises serious questions about his ability to consolidate and deliver the vote-rich Mt. Kenya region for the ruling alliance.

Capitalizing on the visible cracks in Mt. Kenya, politicians from the Western region have already begun lobbying President Ruto, urging him to look West for a 2027 running mate to secure the region’s expansive voting bloc. However, Ruku maintains that Kindiki’s academic credentials and nationalist approach still make him the best partner for Ruto’s re-election bid.