Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has pushed back after Gachagua said he no longer wanted to be called Kindiki’s brother. Kindiki addressed the matter directly on Saturday, August 15, 2026, during remarks to Mount Kenya East leaders.
He rejected the idea that Gachagua could dictate how their relationship gets described publicly. Kindiki said the choice of language was his to make, not something Gachagua had authority over.
“It is not upon you to tell me how I should call you. It is not your business; it is mine,” Kindiki said, addressing Gachagua directly in his speech.
He explained that the term brother carried meaning rooted in community ties rather than personal affection. Kindiki said elders from the Kikuyu, Meru, Embu and Mbeere communities had defined that relationship long before the current political fallout.
“I am not calling you my brother because I love you or am afraid of you,” Kindiki said, framing the bond as cultural rather than political.
He closed the point with a direct statement on how he views their connection. “You are my brother by blood, not by choice,” Kindiki said, tying the remark to the shared community identity he referenced earlier.
The comments followed Gachagua’s recent statement distancing himself from Kindiki amid their ongoing political fallout. Kindiki’s response suggests he intends to keep using the term regardless of Gachagua’s objection.
His remarks add another layer to the public rift between the two leaders since Gachagua’s departure from office. The exchange highlights how personal and cultural language has become entangled with the political tension between them.