In a week of high-stakes political engagements, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki held back-to-back meetings with Embu County leaders amid rising tensions within the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
On Wednesday, June 4, Kindiki hosted Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Muriithi at his Karen residence in Nairobi. The discussions focused on the status of national government projects and safeguarding key agricultural value chains such as tea, coffee, macadamia, and mũgũũka (Cathus edulis).
“This morning I met Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and the County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Muriithi to discuss the status of national government projects in the area,” Kindiki posted on Facebook.
This meeting followed an earlier one on Tuesday, June 3, where Kindiki convened with Embu legislators, including Senator Alexander Mundigi, Woman Rep Njoki Njeru, MPs Eric Muchangi (Runyenjes), Nebart Muriuki (Mbeere South), and Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, a former MP for Mbeere North.
Behind the Scenes: Power Struggles and Silent Wars
While publicly framed as development-focused, the flurry of meetings is widely interpreted as an attempt to repair strained relations and reassert political unity in Embu—especially after Governor Mbarire’s recent explosive claims of internal sabotage.
Speaking during Madaraka Day celebrations, Mbarire accused unnamed senior government officials in Nairobi of meddling in Embu politics through secretive night meetings aimed at weakening her leadership.
“Despite my loyalty to the party, some people are determined to undermine my authority,” Mbarire stated, expressing her frustration over political betrayal from within UDA.
Cracks in UDA? The Kindiki-Mbarire Rift
Tensions between Mbarire and Kindiki appear to be long-standing. In a prior public address, the Deputy President criticized Mbarire for her alleged failure to control the crowd during President William Ruto’s visit to Embu—an incident that saw the head of state heckled, raising concerns about her grip on local leadership.
Kindiki’s comments were seen as a thinly veiled rebuke, sparking speculation about Mbarire’s position as UDA national chairperson, especially following sweeping changes in the party leadership. These included the controversial ouster of former deputy party leader Rigathi Gachagua and a recent merger with Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC).
A Party in Flux
Governor Mbarire, a key player in President Ruto’s 2022 campaign, has found herself increasingly isolated within the party she helped lead to power. As the UDA realigns ahead of 2027, observers say the current wave of political reconfigurations could signal deeper power struggles playing out within Kenya Kwanza’s top ranks.
Whether the recent Kindiki-led reconciliation efforts will succeed in calming the storm in Embu—and within UDA at large—remains to be seen.
