The 33-year-old crashed consecutive sixes to seal the win and ended up with 120 not out next to his name.
It was cracking game, after Northern Districts reached 286 in its second innings, leaving Otago needing 289 to win the match.
Otago's innings was teetering at 94 for three but Kitchen and Brad Wilson added a valuable partnership of 86.
When Wilson was run out, Kitchen took up the responsibility of guiding Otago to the win and he paced his innings beautifully.
The back-to-back sixes at the end were a reminder of his enormous attacking potential.
''It was an outstanding knock. It was flawless really,'' Otago coach Rob Walter said.
''He played really smart cricket and batted very maturely. We all know he is a guy who can strike the ball and score quickly. But after Brad's run out he understood the situation and it was up to him to get the boys across the line.''
The win has lifted Otago off the bottom of the competition table and will boost the camp's confidence after a tough run of injuries and a string of poor results.
Northern resumed on 240 for eight with offspinner Joe Walker unbeaten on 55. The 24-year-old had already eclipsed his previous highest first-class score and continued to frustrate Otago's attack, getting through to 87 before he holed out at long-on.
He got Northern to 286, which set up an interesting chase for the Volts. The visiting side started well with Michael Rippon and captain Wilson adding 63 for the first wicket.
Wilson was watchful while Rippon played with more freedom. He dispatched a short delivery from Scott Kuggeleijn for six but on 43 made an error. He clipped a delivery from Walker to midwicket where Daniel Flynn was stationed.
Michael Bracewell followed shortly after when he edged a ball behind.
Derek de Boorder's departure for three 20 minutes later threatened to be a defining dismissal.
De Boorder had top-scored for Otago in the first innings with 89 and the loss of his wicket left the Volts delicately poised.
But Kitchen is in cracking form late in the season and he combined with Wilson to get the chase heading in the right direction.
It took a run out to remove Wilson from the crease. He was well set on 74 but was surprised by a short delivery from Kuggeleijn which took the inside edge and went behind leg.
Kitchen called him through for a single, but Wilson was not sure where the ball had ended up and was slow to set off. Tim Seifert's throw beat the batsman home.
Sean Eathorne was injured during the warm-up and needed ''a couple''of stitches near his eye. He scored a gutsy 28 in support of Kitchen.
In the other games, the match between Auckland and Central Districts at Colin Maiden Park was drawn. Auckland's Colin Munro (146 and 142) scored back-to-back 100s, while Central's Tom Bruce posted an undefeated 127 in his side's first innings.
At the Basin Reserve, Wellington is 250 for seven in its second innings and leads Canterbury by 304 runs with a day to play.
