Deputy President Kithure Kindiki on Saturday, May 10, 2025, lectured newly appointed Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku and warned him against complaining.

Speaking during the Mbeere North consultative engagement in Siakago, Embu County, Kindiki reminded Ruku that he was not a member of parliament anymore.

Responding to Ruku’s request over a road project, Kindiki told the CS that he was in government and could push for the completion of the said project.

“Sasa wewe sio mbunge tena, wewe ni waziri. Hio mambo umeniambia tunaenda kusukuma na wewe. Wewe sio mbunge wakusema oh serikali, serikali ni wewe. We sit in the cabinet, which is the highest decision-making body of the country na chairman ni rais na mtu wake wa mkono ni mimi,” Kindiki stated.

“So you cannot be a minister na badala ya kusaidia wananchi kuelewa maneno ya serikali imefika wapi na ile imekwama usaidie wananchi hio kitu ipatikane, unakuja hapa kulia, kuchochea na kulalamika, it is not possible,” the DP insisted while taking a swipe at his predecessor, Justin Muturi, alluding that he was fired for his constant criticism of the government in public, instead of airing his grievances in the cabinet.

Kindiki added, “Ukitaka kulalamika, out, kama umeshindwa kutetea watu, out. Kama unataka kutetea watu wa Mbeere wapate maendeleo, in“

Which loosely translates to: “You are not a member of parliament anymore; those things you have told me here, we are going to push together. You are not an MP to say what the government should do; you are the government. We sit in the cabinet, which is the highest decision-making body of the country, and the chairman is the president, and I am his handyman,” Kindiki stated.

“So you cannot be a minister, and instead of helping the citizens to understand government programmes and help implement those stuck, you come here to complain and incite that is not possible,” the DP insisted.

Kindiki added, “If you want to complain, out. If you are not able to defend the people, out. If you want to defend the Mbeere people to get development, in.”

Ruku’s request

Before inviting Kindiki, Ruku had made a request to DP Kindiki stating that elders in Mbeere North were concerned about a certain road project in the area.

Ruku implored Kindiki to look into the matter and push for its completion by the end of the year, in line with the elders’ plea.

“There is a road which has been a problem to them… these elders are asking if that road will be tarmacked this year,” Ruku asked Kindiki.

However, Kindiki reminded Ruku that he could also push for the completion of the project since he sits in the cabinet.

Nonetheless, he praised Ruku, telling the locals that the CS had a brighter future in Kenyan politics.

Ruku was appointed to the cabinet following the firing of his predecessor, Justin Muturi, who had sustained criticism from the government over the disappearance of his son.

Before the appointment, he was a Mbeere North member of parliament.