Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has explained why he visited the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party offices as Interior Cabinet Secretary once every two weeks, spending at least an hour at the offices.
Speaking on Monday at the party headquarters after taking over as the Deputy Party leader, Kindiki said secret visits were to ensure the party offices were safe.
He noted that President William Ruto as party leader also uses the offices and it was incumbent upon him to ensure it was safe for his use.
“I have been coming here, of course, with the permission of the party leadership, but in a discrete manner for two reasons.
“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 and therefore, I needed to check from time to time, this facility is secure for the Commander-in-Chief,” Kindiki said.
He went on to say that the second reason was because he was still the President’s chief agent, from the 2022 presidential elections.
He insisted that even after elections, the office still needs to exist, just like the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) until another holder comes in the next cycle of elections.
“I used to come here as a chief agent of the President to make sure the paperwork is still there. Nobody has interfered in the files and our liaison with the register of political parties is still okay, but only in that limited sense of being a chief agent.
“Of course, there wasn't much work after the Supreme Court determined the validity of the election. But it is good manners and good practice that the parties, Presidential Chief agent must hover around until another one is appointed.”
Kindiki added that he is still in consultations with the party leadership and will be advised on how to go about handing over the office to the next holder.
