- DP Kindiki urged Kenyans to maintain peace during the electioneering period, citing the 1992 and 2002 elections, when former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta and veteran politician Kenneth Matiba contested for the presidency.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged politicians to shun insults and political fights, calling on leaders to focus on development and maintain peace as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Friday in Thumaita, Gichugu and Kiania in Ndia Constituency, Kirinyaga County, where he commissioned road and electricity projects, Kindiki said leaders would struggle to convince voters without a tangible development record.
“It is going to be very difficult for us leaders to stand before the people next year talking politics if you do not have a development track record. Wananchi do not eat noise, insults and fights. What they want is development, peace and unity,” he said.
Kindiki urged Kenyans to maintain peace during the electioneering period, citing the 1992 and 2002 elections, when former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta and veteran politician Kenneth Matiba contested for the presidency.
He said political competition should not lead to violence or the destruction of property, adding that young people should not be used to cause chaos during political activities.
“We want to focus in the remaining ten months to complete the remaining projects. We are on course in implementing our manifesto on roads, markets, agriculture and electricity. We will meet and exceed expectations."
The Deputy President also highlighted the government's achievements in education and healthcare, citing the employment of 100,000 teachers and plans to recruit an additional 24,000 in the coming month.
On healthcare, Kindiki said membership of the Social Health Authority (SHA) had increased to 33 million from 8 million under the former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
He added that Kirinyaga was among the counties approaching universal health coverage registration under SHA, supported by community health promoters.
Kindiki said the government remained committed to ensuring that all Kenyans could access affordable healthcare, adding that peace and unity were essential to sustaining development.
He noted that the newly commissioned road projects would improve connectivity and ease the transportation of agricultural produce to markets, while electricity connections would support businesses and improve livelihoods.
Kindiki assured residents that the government would continue implementing development projects across the country, saying the initiatives were aimed at stimulating economic growth and fulfilling pre-election pledges.
He reiterated that political contests were temporary, but national unity must be preserved regardless of the outcome of the 2027 General Election.