DP Kindiki Criticized Over Deplorable School Conditions in Tharaka Nithi
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is facing intense public backlash following the release of disturbing footage showing schoolchildren in his home county of Tharaka Nithi studying under severely dilapidated conditions.
The criticism comes in the wake of a Citizen TV exposé, which aired on Monday evening, showing students learning inside makeshift, crumbling mud structures—roofless, dusty, and structurally unstable. The scenes sparked widespread outrage, particularly as they contrasted sharply with Kindiki’s highly publicized and costly national empowerment programs.
Motorists Association of Kenya Condemns “Flashy” Empowerment Tours
On Tuesday morning, the Motorists Association of Kenya issued a blistering statement, accusing Deputy President Kindiki of neglecting his backyard while pursuing nationwide publicity tours under the guise of empowerment.
“In Tharaka Nithi, the Deputy President’s backyard, pupils are learning in appalling, almost inhuman conditions: roofless shells with muddy, crumbling walls full of holes. This is a national disgrace,” the Association stated.
They further called out the extravagant use of helicopters, each reportedly costing up to Ksh300 million to purchase or Ksh200,000 per hour to hire, as a glaring example of misplaced priorities in the face of glaring poverty and neglect.
Viral Video Sparks National Outrage
The now-viral footage, widely shared on social media, showed children seated on stones inside dilapidated mud-walled structures with no roofs, windows, or desks. Crumbling walls riddled with holes and floors covered in dust and mud formed the heartbreaking reality of classrooms in six schools within the region.
The Citizen TV report further highlighted serious health and safety risks, including exposure to harsh weather and snake bites. Additionally, the report revealed that students in some boarding schools had to walk long distances to fetch unsafe water from rivers shared with livestock.
“This Is Not Leadership – It’s Bad Governance”
The Motorists Association criticized what they described as “airborne spectacles of arrogance,” accusing the government of prioritizing political optics over real development.
“How long will we keep letting our children rot in mud and shame while leaders fly overhead, showering the poor with crumbs and calling it generosity? This is not leadership; it’s bad governance,” they said.
The Association demanded that a portion of the funds currently being spent on empowerment campaigns be redirected toward rebuilding schools and providing essential amenities like clean water and desks.
A Painful Irony: Neglect in a Former Senator’s Backyard
The uproar has drawn attention to the irony of the situation: Deputy President Kindiki previously served as the Senator for Tharaka Nithi, making the suffering of his own constituents even more difficult for critics to digest.
Social media users were quick to point out that while Kindiki has been leading national programs focused on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and public safety, the basic educational infrastructure in his home county remains in ruins.
One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote:
“How can you empower the youth when they’re being educated in mud huts with no roofs? Start by giving them dignity, then talk about empowerment.”
Education and Children’s Rights Groups Speak Out
Children’s rights organizations and education advocacy groups have joined the conversation, calling on the Ministry of Education and county authorities to intervene immediately.
Elimu Yetu Coalition, a prominent education lobby, released a statement urging the government to conduct a needs assessment of all public schools in Tharaka Nithi and other marginalized areas.
“What we are seeing in Tharaka Nithi is not unique. Many rural schools across the country face similar or worse conditions. The government must prioritize equitable resource distribution,” said the group’s executive director.
Government Response: Silence So Far
As of Tuesday evening, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki had not issued a public response to the growing backlash. The silence has only fueled more criticism, with many questioning whether the DP and his office are deliberately ignoring the matter.
Political analysts suggest the episode could harm Kindiki’s public image as a disciplined and results-oriented leader, especially if the situation is not addressed quickly and transparently.
Citizens Demand Accountability and Action
The Tharaka Nithi exposé has sparked a larger conversation about resource allocation, political accountability, and the state of public education in rural Kenya. Many Kenyans are demanding:
- Immediate renovation of the affected schools
- Provision of clean water, desks, and textbooks
- Audit of empowerment program expenditures
- Public apology and direct engagement by the Deputy President
There are also growing calls for Parliament and the Auditor-General to scrutinize the budgets attached to the national empowerment programs currently spearheaded by the Office of the Deputy President.
The Bigger Picture: A National Crisis?
While this incident focuses on Tharaka Nithi, it raises a broader issue that affects many parts of Kenya: the persistent inequality in access to quality education.
Despite government promises of universal basic education, hundreds of public schools, especially in rural and marginalized areas, still suffer from a lack of infrastructure, teaching materials, and sanitation facilities.
This situation undermines the country’s long-term development goals and puts the future of thousands of children at risk.
Conclusion
The Citizen TV exposé and subsequent backlash against Deputy President Kithure Kindiki have laid bare the harsh realities of public education in parts of Kenya. As videos of children studying in muddy, crumbling classrooms circulate online, the contrast with flashy empowerment events has never been starker.
Kenyans are watching closely to see how the Deputy President and relevant government bodies respond—not with more speeches or helicopter tours, but with real action.