- He said, "Mlima Kenya iko na Deputy President na waziri saba, serikali si ni yenu... Mko na PS kumi na nane... mkubwa wa polisi ni tenu; mkubwa wa jeshi ni wenu, Central Bank governor ni wenu, chairman wa KRA ni wenu; Chief Justice ni wenu, majority leader ni wenu... sasa nawauliza, mko na matunda mkononi, mnaambiwa mtupe hio matunda mtafute ingine...!"
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has urged residents of Meru and the wider Mt Kenya region to defend Deputy President Kithure Kindiki against political attacks and resist overtures from the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Duale said the region already had a senior leader in government and risked losing its political advantage by turning against Kindiki in pursuit of uncertain alternatives.
He said, "Mlima Kenya iko na Deputy President na waziri saba, serikali si ni yenu... Mko na PS kumi na nane... mkubwa wa polisi ni tenu; mkubwa wa jeshi ni wenu, Central Bank governor ni wenu, chairman wa KRA ni wenu; Chief Justice ni wenu, majority leader ni wenu... sasa nawauliza, mko na matunda mkononi, mnaambiwa mtupe hio matunda mtafute ingine...!"
This loosely translates to, "The Deputy President comes from this region, and so do 7 Cabinet secretaries and 18 PSs.... the Chief Justice, Majority leader Central Bank chairman come from your region... Isn't the government yours!"
Using the proverb that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush, the CS cautioned residents against abandoning what he described as an existing opportunity to pursue political promises from the opposition.
He urged the community not to allow Kindiki to be disrespected, arguing that his position as Deputy President gave the region a direct stake in the national government.
The remarks come amid growing political competition for support in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition leaders seeking to weaken President William Ruto’s support base and challenge Kindiki’s influence in his political backyard.
Kindiki has in recent months faced criticism from a section of local opposition leaders, prompting him to defend his record and urge residents to judge political leaders by their development track record.
In September, the Deputy President dismissed attacks from his critics in Meru, saying his focus remained on delivering roads, markets, water and health infrastructure rather than engaging in political exchanges.
Duale backed a continued Ruto-Kindiki partnership in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that retaining the current leadership would allow the region to maintain its influence in government and benefit from ongoing development projects.
On health matters, Duale said the Ministry of Health had tightened controls to prevent individuals and businesses from exploiting the Ebola health crisis to defraud the government.
He cited the alleged mismanagement of public funds during Kenya’s COVID-19 response, when procurement deals and the handling of emergency funds attracted allegations of corruption.
The CS referred to individuals popularly described as “COVID billionaires” and said the government would not allow a repeat of such profiteering during a public health emergency.
However, he did not specify the measures introduced or how the ministry would ensure accountability in the use of funds.
Duale was speaking during the commissioning of a new maternity wing at Uruku Health Centre in Meru County.
The facility, constructed in partnership with the Safaricom M-PESA Foundation, is expected to improve access to maternal and child health services in the area.