Kindiki clarifies intention of empowerment amid increased scrutiny
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has defended his empowerment initiative, clarifying that the programme is aimed at supporting women’s businesses through structured groups and not for casual or personal spending.
Speaking during the economic empowerment forum in Baringo County on Sunday, August 3, 2025, Kindiki emphasised that the funds are part of a structured effort to empower women economically and are disbursed through registered groups to ensure accountability and impact.
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Additionally, the second in command added that the initiative is rooted in economic empowerment rather than political tokenism.
“Wamama wamefanya alot of work, Kuna watu wanaongea mambo ya uwongo huko nje sisi hii pesa tunasaidia vikundi sio pesa ya kugawanya watu waende kununua kitenge, akina mama waende kununua vitenge hii ni pesa ya biashara, ni mambo ya kusaidia kina mama kwa biashara na wanasaidiwa kupitia vikundi,” Kindiki clarified.
While emphasising that the programme is meant to empower everyone, Kindiki added that youth and elderly empowerment would be addressed later, noting that the elderly also have their own groups.
“Tutakuja kwa mambo ya vijana baadaye na mambo ya wazee kwa sababu pia wao wako na vikundi vyao because we want everybody to be empowered; sio pesa ya kugawanya na kukula mikate na kunywa soda, hii niya kujenga jamii, tumeanza na kina mama kwa sababu wanajua kuchunga pesa,”he added.
Criticisms
This comes after his empowerment initiative has faced criticism from a section of political leaders.
On July 19,2025, Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua criticised Kindiki’s economic empowerment initiatives in the Mt Kenya region, dismissing them as hollow public relations stunts disguised as development.
Speaking during an interview in Boston, Gachagua described the programmes as a “shameful waste of public resources.”
He has also accused the government of staging flashy events with little to no meaningful impact on the ground.
“The so-called economic empowerment in Mt Kenya is a façade. Previously, they came with beans and rice, until we spoke out. Now, they parade ‘real’ empowerment materials, but it’s still a shameful waste of public resources. Just look: dozens of helicopters flying into one event, all for show. This is not empowerment. It’s extravagance dressed as progress,” he said.
Further, he has criticised the disparity in resource allocation and job creation across regions, pointing to the Rift Valley as a prime example.
“While Mt Kenya is being appeased with beans and rice, Rift Valley is receiving matatus; their youth are being recruited into the army and the Kenya Police, and even securing jobs abroad. Meanwhile, in Mt Kenya, instead of opportunities, they are deploying goons to intimidate and divide,” he said.
Apart from Gachagua, Kenya School of Law President Joshua Okayo also criticised empowerment programmes led by Kindiki after a report emerged showing students learning under deplorable conditions.
“Young children in Tharaka Nithi are studying in exposed and dusty classrooms, some even under trees. The boarders are fetching water from nearby streams, while their former senator, who’s the current second in command is ’empowering’ women with 64 shillings and distributing tens of millions in churches for no particular reasons. Honestly, what’s this? This is not how we should live as a nation. We must get serious,” he said.
