{"id":134666,"date":"2026-03-18T13:02:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T13:02:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/kindiki-hits-back-at-critics-over-attacks-on-rutos-unpresidential-remarks\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T13:02:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T13:02:45","slug":"kindiki-hits-back-at-critics-over-attacks-on-rutos-unpresidential-remarks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/kindiki-hits-back-at-critics-over-attacks-on-rutos-unpresidential-remarks\/","title":{"rendered":"Kindiki hits back at critics over attacks on Ruto\u2019s \u2018unpresidential remarks\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 18 \u2013 Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has defended President William Ruto against critics, accusing opposition leaders of focusing on personal attacks instead of offering policy alternatives.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking during a public address, Kindiki said it was contradictory for critics to demand \u2018presidential conduct\u2019 from Ruto while allegedly undermining his office through sustained criticism.<\/p>\n

His remarks come amid heightened political tensions, with rival factions trading accusations over governance, leadership style, and the direction of the country.<\/p>\n

Kindiki maintained that political discourse should shift toward policy-driven debates that address the needs of Kenyans rather than personal attacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have seen some people saying President Ruto should be presidential, and it is true, President Ruto is presidential. But I have a question for those guys: you have used all your time not to explain your policies regarding agriculture, health, roads, or electricity\u2014instead of stating your policies, you have used all your time to insult and demean the President of the Republic of Kenya.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore you start demanding for President Ruto to act presidential, have you treated him in a presidential manner? Have you spoken to him and regarded him as the President of Kenya? You cannot demand that President Ruto should be presidential when you have used all your time to insult and demean the office of the president and the holder of that office,\u201d the DP added.<\/p>\n

President Ruto had earlier dismissed criticism from United Alternative Government leaders over his recent remarks, saying there is nothing wrong with eating bananas but urging former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang\u2019i to \u2018moderate his portions.\u2019<\/p>\n

The exchange is the latest in a series of sharp political barbs between the President and opposition figures, sparked by comments from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard them responding arrogantly yesterday, saying, \u2018We don\u2019t eat at your place; we eat bananas.\u2019 My friends, there is nothing wrong with eating bananas. I also eat them, but reduce the portions,\u201d Ruto said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never said you eat at my house, but if you were eating at my place, I would have reduced your portions just as I am reducing my own food intake,\u201d Ruto added.<\/p>\n

Presidential hopeful Fred Matiang\u2019i on Tuesday fired back at President William Ruto, calling for respect and maturity in leadership as the political temperature ahead of 2027 continues to rise.<\/p>\n

Speaking in Narok while meeting Jubilee Party delegates, Matiang\u2019i took issue with remarks by President Ruto, who had earlier mocked his opponents weight and eating habits.<\/p>\n

Matiang\u2019i warned that the country risks lowering the dignity of leadership if politicians continue engaging in insults and personal jabs.<\/p>\n

\u201cKenyans expect those who seek leadership to be measured, mature and decent\u2014even in the language we use,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

An escalating political feud has been ongoing between President William Ruto and his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, which has taken a personal turn,with the two leaders now trading remarks that observers say amount to body shaming.<\/p>\n

On Monday, Gachagua who has declared his mission to block President Ruto from securing a second term mocked the President\u2019s appearance during a public address.<\/p>\n

\u201cNa uzuri atakiwa na hiyo pesa yote halali. Si umeona amekonda mpaka masikio imekuja juu? Heh? Mmeona?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Gachagua\u2019s remarks appeared to suggest that President Ruto is allegedly amassing wealth improperly, while also taking a swipe at his physical features.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 18 \u2013 Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has defended President William Ruto against critics, accusing opposition leaders of focusing on personal attacks instead of offering policy alternatives. Speaking during a public address, Kindiki said it was contradictory for critics to demand \u2018presidential conduct\u2019 from Ruto while allegedly undermining his office through sustained criticism. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-134666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134666"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134666\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=134666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chezaspin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=134666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}