In a recent address at the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) headquarters, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who also served as Interior Cabinet Secretary, clarified why he makes regular visits to the party’s offices.
Kindiki revealed that, despite holding a high-profile government role, he has been quietly visiting the UDA offices every two weeks, with each visit lasting at least an hour.
His explanation shed light on his dual roles of ensuring security at the premises and maintaining his position as the President’s chief agent from the 2022 election.
Kindiki’s visits, which had been conducted discreetly until recently, are grounded in his responsibility as Interior Cabinet Secretary to ensure the safety of all environments used by President William Ruto, the leader of UDA.
According to Kindiki, “I have been coming here, of course, with the permission of the party leadership, but in a discrete manner for two reasons.”
He highlighted that one of his primary motives was to safeguard the facility for the President, who frequently uses the UDA headquarters as part of his political engagements.
This duty of care extends to ensuring that the environment is secure for Kenya’s head of state, a task that falls under Kindiki’s ministerial purview given his mandate over national security.
Explaining the significance of his actions, Kindiki emphasized, “I’ve been coming here at least once every two weeks for an hour or so, is because I was the interior minister, and I needed to know that this place is secure because the head of state is our party leader, and he uses this facility.”
This underscores the intersection between his ministerial obligations and his political affiliations.
His visits reflect a broader trend of senior government officials balancing state responsibilities with political ties, especially in cases where they hold prominent positions within a ruling party.
The second reason for Kindiki’s frequent visits to the UDA offices lies in his ongoing role as President Ruto’s chief agent from the 2022 presidential election.
Kindiki sees his chief agent status as an ongoing duty until the position is formally handed over to a new appointee in the next election cycle.
He argued that the chief agent’s role should continue post-election to oversee sensitive party documents, maintain liaison with the Registrar of Political Parties, and ensure the integrity of party records and electoral paperwork.
“I used to come here as a chief agent of the President to make sure the paperwork is still there,” Kindiki explained, highlighting his vigilance in overseeing crucial documents and files at the headquarters.
Reflecting on the continuity of his chief agent role, Kindiki mentioned that while his workload diminished significantly after the Supreme Court upheld the election results, the role’s presence within the party structure remained essential.
“It is good manners and good practice that the Presidential Chief agent must hover around until another one is appointed,” he added, underscoring his belief that continuity in this role is vital for party stability.
According to Kindiki, this post-election continuity ensures that any transition to a new chief agent in the next election cycle is smooth and secure, further underlining his commitment to the party’s ongoing operational integrity.
In the meantime, Kindiki remains in consultation with the UDA leadership to finalize the handover of his chief agent duties.
This process reflects an organized approach to the transition, providing the party a clear path for appointing the next agent.
His proactive stance not only signifies his personal commitment to UDA but also reflects the broader approach of integrating party responsibilities with government oversight, particularly in a ruling party.
Kindiki’s explanation reveals the balance and dual obligations he navigates between his ministerial and political duties, highlighting the complexity of Kenyan politics where public office and party affiliations frequently intersect.
This arrangement within the UDA underscores the party’s approach of merging government roles with party responsibilities, a practice seen in many political settings where ruling parties closely align state functions with party objectives.
