Deputy President Kithure Kindiki was installed as the spokesperson for the Mt Kenya region on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at an event held at Kirigiti stadium in Kiambu. The event was attended by thousands of Kikuyu, Embu, Mbeere, and Meru elders, who endorsed Kindiki for the new role. However, the ceremony was marred by a viral incident where Kindiki's traditional hat fell off his head as he was being given the authority for his new office.
The incident occurred as Kindiki was led to sit on a stool and an elder announced that it was time to give him the full authority of his new office. As he sat down, the hat fell off his head, and despite trying to catch it, he failed to do so. His hands eventually rested on his head as elders around him quickly picked up the hat and handed it back to him. Kindiki then put the hat back on his head, adjusting it perfectly before the installation proceeded.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has reacted to the viral incident, interpreting it as a sign that the gods of the mountain have rejected Kindiki's installation. According to Gachagua, the powerful gods of the mountain took the throne away from Kindiki as fake elders were attempting to hand it over to him. Gachagua made these remarks during a community address and engagement at Matt Ross Community Centre, Kansas City, USA, on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Gachagua maintained that the ceremony was aborted the moment the hat fell on the ground, and Kindiki's attempt to pick up the hat and put it back on his head amounted to forcing himself onto the throne when the gods had pronounced their verdict. He added that the incident was a clear indication that the gods of the mountain are very powerful and will not allow such a thing to happen.
Not everyone has accepted Kindiki's installation as the Mt Kenya spokesperson. A section of MPs from the region, including Ndia MP George Kariuki and Juja MP George Koimburi, have rejected the installation, citing a lack of consultation with local leaders and residents. Kariuki pointed out that only one MP from the region attended the event, indicating that local leaders were either not consulted or chose to give it a wide berth.
Kariuki and Koimburi have expressed their dissatisfaction with the way the installation was handled, with Kariuki stating that opportunities are given by God and that the region's leaders want politics that involve talking to the people, not just optics. Koimburi accused Kindiki of disrespecting elected leaders from the region, stating that the DP has been holding meetings with elders in his constituency without involving him.
The incident has sparked a heated debate, with Gachagua's comments adding fuel to the fire. As the region's leaders continue to grapple with the implications of Kindiki's installation, it remains to be seen how this development will affect the region's politics.
Key points
- Gachagua interprets the hat incident as a sign of rejection by the gods.
- A section of MPs from the region reject Kindiki's installation.
- The incident has sparked a heated debate in the region's politics.
