The meeting held at Kindiki’s Karen residence came just hours after he held a separate session at the same venue with a section of elected leaders from Embu County.
However, during that earlier meeting on Tuesday, May 3, 2025, Mbarire was conspicuously absent, fueling speculation about tensions between her and the Deputy President.
“Following last evening’s meeting with the Senator and Members of Parliament from Embu County, this morning I met Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Muriithi to discuss the status of national government projects in the area and interventions to protect key agricultural value chains, including tea, coffee, macadamia, and Catha edulis (muguka),” Kindiki posted on his X account on Wednesday, May 4, 2025.
A day earlier, Kindiki had said that his discussions with Embu legislators focused on the progress of national government development projects in the county.
He added that the meeting also explored government interventions to protect and strengthen key agricultural value chains, particularly tea, coffee, milk, macadamia, and Catha edulis (muguka).
Among those present at the Tuesday meeting were Senator Alexander Mundigi, Woman Representative Njoki Njeru, MPs Eric Muchangi (Runyenjes), Eng. Nebart Muriuki (Mbeere South) and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku.
However, Ruku was notably absent from Wednesday’s meeting.
The CS recently remarked that “those making noise are free to join the opposition,” in what was widely interpreted as a veiled jab at Mbarire.
The meeting came just days after Governor Mbarire publicly criticised certain senior national government officials, accusing them of undermining her leadership.
Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebrations in Embu County on June 1, 2025, Mbarire alleged that the officials had been holding night-time political meetings behind her back.
“These officials who are in government are disrespecting me, and they should stop,” she said during her speech at Makima Primary School in Mbeere, drawing cheers from the crowd.
“I will not sit back and watch as backroom political deals are made behind my back.”
According to the county boss, the agenda of these so-called “night political meetings” is to strategise on Embu’s political direction without involving the elected leadership.
“I will not allow anyone, regardless of their position in government, to sabotage or bypass my leadership. Planning political activities for Embu without consulting elected leaders is disrespectful,” she asserted.
Governor Mbarire, who is also the UDA national chairperson, did not name the senior government officials in question.
