Kindiki Chairs High-Level Meeting Amid Reports His Duties Have Been Moved to Mudavadi’s Office

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki chaired a high-level government meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, amid reports that President William Ruto had moved part of his intergovernmental relations responsibilities to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

The DP shared details of the meeting held at Harambee House Annex, where senior government officials discussed preparations for the proposed Eastern Africa Oil Refinery project.

The meeting brought together Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and heads of government agencies as discussions on the project entered the preparatory stage.

According to Kindiki, government officials held pre-project discussions on the legal, regulatory and administrative measures already taken regarding the proposed refinery.

They also reviewed requirements for engaging stakeholders in the coming weeks.

“Deliberations across Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies on preparatory measures on the proposed Eastern Africa Oil Refinery are ongoing,” Kindiki said.

He added that the officials discussed the steps required before the project moves to the next stage.

“Pre-project discussions were held this morning on legal, regulatory and administrative measures taken so far, and the requirements for stakeholder engagement for the coming weeks,” he said.

Kindiki’s meeting comes as attention remains focused on his position in government following reports that Mudavadi has been assigned responsibility for administering the Intergovernmental Relations Act.

Reports Place Mudavadi at Centre of Intergovernmental Relations

Confidential government documents cited by KTN reportedly show that President William Ruto designated Mudavadi to administer the Intergovernmental Relations Act.

The reported move has raised questions over the responsibilities of the Deputy President’s office, particularly Kindiki’s role in intergovernmental relations.

The issue reportedly emerged after the Attorney General prepared draft regulations to operationalise the Intergovernmental Relations Act.

When the regulations reached the Senate, lawmakers raised questions about the constitutional position of the Deputy President in administering functions reserved for a Cabinet Secretary.

The Senate reportedly advised President Ruto to invoke Article 132(3)(c) of the Constitution to designate a Cabinet Secretary to administer the law.

Mudavadi subsequently sought the designation through a letter to Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.

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Kindiki Role Comes Under Spotlight as Mudavadi Is Designated

According to the documents cited by KTN, Koskei communicated President Ruto’s decision on June 8, formally designating the responsibility to Mudavadi.

The report further stated that Kindiki was not copied in the correspondence.

Weeks later, Mudavadi reportedly informed the Council of Governors that his office had received the designation and directed the State Department for Devolution to take steps to implement the directive.

Another letter from the Parliamentary Affairs Principal Secretary reportedly asked the PS for Devolution, Michael Lenasalon, to issue a Gazette Notice formally recognising Mudavadi as being in charge of the intergovernmental relations docket.

The developments have fuelled speculation about whether Kindiki’s responsibilities are gradually being reduced.

However, the reports have not established that all of Kindiki’s duties have been transferred to Mudavadi.

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Questions Over IBEC Role

The reports have also raised questions over Kindiki’s position as chair of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC).

IBEC is a key forum for coordination between the national and county governments, particularly on fiscal matters.

The reported changes have prompted political debate over whether Kindiki has been carrying too many responsibilities to continue chairing the council.

The debate has also been linked to claims that the DP has not chaired the Intergovernmental Coordination Committee since January.

According to the KTN report, Kindiki invited stakeholders to a meeting in April, but the invitation was later withdrawn without an explanation.

Gachagua Links Developments to the Deputy President

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has repeatedly claimed that the political forces that pushed for his removal would eventually turn their attention to Kindiki.

Gachagua has suggested that the broader objective was to weaken the office of the Deputy President rather than target one individual.

“This short man has been assigned by Kasongo. We, the people around William Ruto, used to treat me as the Deputy President with great disrespect, insulting me and calling me all sorts of names. Now, the same thing has started happening to him,” Gachagua said.

On another occasion, Gachagua warned Kindiki that he was allegedly being used by President Ruto.

“You, soprano person, you have been badly used by Kasongo. I have received news that the people of Kalenjin have started to blame Kindiki. At the moment, they don’t see him like anybody. And I have sent a word to him through a mutual friend: Be careful,” Gachagua said.

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