Kindiki: We will not tolerate politics of division

Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki has warned against the return of divisive politics, stating that the government will not allow hatred and disunity to take root in the Mt Kenya region or across the country.

Speaking during an empowerment event in Kiawara village, Kieni West Constituency, Nyeri County, Prof Kindiki affirmed the region's longstanding unity and called on leaders to prioritize service delivery over political wrangling.

"Mt Kenya has always been united and it will continue to remain so," Prof Kindiki said.

"President William Ruto has supported leaders across the country. It is now our duty to focus on delivering services to Kenyans,"

The Deputy President used the event to reaffirm the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to uplifting low-income earners through its bottom-up economic model, a central campaign promise.

“When we campaigned, we promised a bottom-up approach to economic transformation. This is it,” said Kindiki, as he presented financial support to small-scale traders and boda boda operators to help boost their livelihoods.

The initiative, part of a national constituency-level program, operates through a public-private partnership aimed at supplementing formal government efforts to support informal workers at the grassroots.

Unlike previous campaign-period gestures such as the distribution of reflector jackets or aprons, Prof Kindiki emphasized that the administration's initiatives are designed for long-term impact.

“We are here to fulfil pledges beyond elections. Our goal is to build structures that enable hustlers to thrive in the long term,” he said.

The Kieni West initiative is among several under the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Others include the NYOTA (National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement) Programme, which provides Sh50,000 grants to 70 small businesses per ward.

Target sectors include agribusiness, tailoring, and retail.

The grants are coupled with financial literacy training to promote sustainability and job creation.

The government has also introduced economic reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy and increasing household incomes.

These include improved coffee prices, the Affordable Housing Programme--which provides low-cost housing and construction jobs--and efforts to revitalize local markets.

Additionally, Prof Kindiki highlighted the expansion of social protection measures such as the Taifa Care medical coverage, now extended to informal workers.

“A healthy, housed, and financially secure population is the foundation of a productive economy,” he said, linking the government’s efforts to a broader vision of inclusive growth.

Friday's visit marked the DP's third official tour of Kieni West since taking office.

With over 15 million Kenyans engaged in the informal sector, he stressed that such programs are essential for reducing unemployment and bridging income inequality