The war of words between the incumbent deputy president and his predecessor escalated when Kithure Kindiki dismissed DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua’s intellectual capacity and his grasp of Kenya’s constitution. The DP said Gachagua’s approach to politics has become an embarrassment to the Mt. Kenya region and to leaders who came before him.
In a strongly worded statement, Kindiki told Gachagua that his “comparative advantage” lies in what he described as “matters of insults, division, and primitive, stone-age bigotry,” and urged him to stay in his lane.
The remarks followed Gachagua’s comments on Tuesday, June 23. Gachagua had argued that Kindiki was embarrassing himself by insisting that the Constitution allows a president to serve two terms. He also questioned why Kindiki would make comments aimed at pleasing President William Ruto, suggesting this came at the expense of his reputation as a legal mind.
“Soprano, please, don’t embarrass us. You are our son. You are thinking like a Standard 1 child and are reading the Constitution upside down,” Gachagua said.
The deputy president had earlier defended his position on the two-term constitutional provision, arguing that the Constitution does not recognize the idea of “one term.”
He reiterated that the Constitution provides for at least two terms for each president, the first to introduce programmes, policies, projects, and reforms, and a second term to complete those projects. Kindiki said he expects Ruto to win another term based on his performance record.
But Gachagua reminded Kindiki that Ruto had previously stated he needed only one term before seeking a fresh mandate from the people.
Gachagua also argued that if the Constitution’s framers had intended a two-term limit, they would have clearly specified that a head of state should serve for 10 years. He added that public indifference toward Ruto among Kenyans stems from the president’s failure to deliver on his promises.
Kindiki fired back on Wednesday, challenging Gachagua’s constitutional literacy and questioning whether Gachagua was trying to provoke an intellectual confrontation.
“I hear you want to teach me Constitutional Law and that you doubt my understanding of not just the Constitution of Kenya but of the over one hundred other national constitutions that I started studying many years ago when you were busy stealing relief food. Are you really looking for an intellectual challenge?” the deputy president asked.
Kindiki then shifted the focus back to Gachagua, arguing that it was Gachagua who had embarrassed the Mt Kenya region.
“Who has embarrassed the Mount Kenya region more than the person whose greed and incompetence is making us spend so much time explaining that you do not represent our change from the values projected by statesmen born in our region of birth, who served our Country in the past with honour, distinction and excellence?”
Despite the sharp exchange, Kindiki said he would not fully engage at the time, adding that he had more pressing work.
“Umenitafuta sana na hii kiburi yako, but at the right time I will answer you. For now niko busy, I won’t descend,” he said.
