Deputy President Kithure Kindiki address residents in Meru on August 22, 2026/DPCS
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has invoked the biblical phrase “Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin” to warn former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that his political days are numbered.
He said leaders without a record of achievement will be rejected by voters.
Kindiki criticised Gachagua’s style of politics, claiming he relies on insults and provocative labels instead of presenting a record of what he achieved while in government.
Speaking at Kinoru Stadium in Meru town on Saturday, Kindiki said leaders should be judged by their performance and contribution to the communities they represent rather than their political bravado.
“Alipatia Rais jina ati Kasongo, akapatia Deputy President jina ati Soprano,” Kindiki said, referring to names Gachagua has used for President William Ruto and the current Deputy President.
“If that is the style of politics you are playing, your days in politics are numbered,” he warned.
Kindiki appeared to draw on the biblical account of the writing on the wall in the Book of Daniel, where “Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin” was interpreted as a warning that a ruler’s reign had been weighed and found wanting.
He said political leadership should not be based on chest-thumping, arrogance or insults.
“Wale hawana rekodi waende. What counts is what you have done to your people,” he said.
“Kwani familia inaongozwa na kifua? Watu wanaongozwa na kiburi?” Kindiki asked.
The remarks came as Kindiki presented the Government’s progress in implementing its manifesto, four years after the Kenya Kwanza administration came to power.
He said Kenya’s economic recovery was on course, citing improvements in the strength of the currency, inflation, the country’s sovereign rating, foreign exchange reserves and national savings.
In agriculture, Kindiki pointed to reduced fertiliser prices and increased earnings from coffee, tea and milk, as well as lower costs of sexed semen for dairy breeding.
He said the Government had also employed an additional 100,000 teachers, streamlined the education curriculum and doubled enrolment in tertiary institutions.
On healthcare, Kindiki said 32 million Kenyans were now covered under Taifa Care, compared with eight million previously covered under the former system.
He also highlighted the Affordable Housing Programme, construction of fresh produce markets and student accommodation as part of efforts to transform Kenya’s built environment.
Kindiki said electricity connections had been extended to 1.4 million additional homes, while the NYOTA programme and overseas and digital jobs were creating opportunities for young people.
On infrastructure, he said the Government had cleared Sh177 billion in road construction bills that had contributed to stalled projects since 2019, allowing construction of about 6,000 kilometres of roads to resume.
He also cited ongoing construction of the Rironi-Mau Summit Road, a new airport in Nairobi, railway extensions and 32 new stadiums, including Talanta Stadium.
Kindiki spoke to more than 40,000 grassroots leaders and opinion shapers from Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Kitui and Kirinyaga counties at Kinoru Stadium.
He was accompanied by several governors, senators, MPs, MCAs and senior Government officials, including Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa.
Kindiki said the National Infrastructure Fund would support construction of dams, roads and energy projects as Kenya seeks to accelerate industrialisation and achieve first-world economy status.