Gachagua claims Mt Kenya crown, accuses Ruto of betrayal

The memorial service for the late Ol Kalou Member of Parliament (MP) David Njuguna Kiaraho in Nyandarua County on Wednesday this week before his interment at his Tigoni home in Kiambu provided a rare opening for former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to display his hold on the Mt Kenya region and he used it to maximum effect.

In what is likely to be a major shift in the battle for the region’s vote-rich basket, Gachagua pointedly took on President William Ruto, accusing him of betraying it even after its strong support in the 2022 presidential contest.

Amid cheers from the crowd of mourners, Gachagua fired heavy salvos at Ruto whom he said has turned around to call them tribalists as he woos other regions to support him, which he urged him to desist from and instead make peace with the Kikuyu community.

He threw a gauntlet at the President, saying that despite removing him from office through impeachment in 2024, he remains the Mt Kenya kingpin and it will be a difficult task to remove him from the hearts of the voters.

At the same time, Gachagua strategically sought to isolate him from his lieutenants and especially Kikuyu Member of Parliament and National Assembly Leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah and the rest of the crop of young leaders around him, whom he blamed for his betrayal of the region.

The Democracy for Citizens Party leader went on to tell the President that they are ready to work with him if he drops them.

Analysts say that by targeting the Mt Kenya leaders around Ruto, especially Ichungw’ah, the second most senior leader after Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, the former DP aimed at diminishing their influence on the ground as the contest for State House 2027 builds up.

This is more so by accusing them of being the architects of their betrayal, which could work against them including in their re-election bids.

With Kindiki adopting a change of strategy by desisting attacks on Gachagua, including at the memorial service, many see the DP as also having shifted focus to a direct confrontation with the President himself and not the likes of Ichung’wa, whom he called “watoto” (children).

While at face value, his invitation to Ruto to embrace the community, Gachagua, a student of political science, is fully aware that the President, himself a self-made political genius, would know that it is a trap that could capture his re-election dreams.

This was well captured in Ruto’s response when he said he has not abandoned the community and he is fully aware that they voted for him in 2022.

“Mimi naelewa nilipigiwa kura na watu wa Mlima, mimi sio mlevi, mjinga ama wazimu. I know what I am doing. I will go to any place and do everything as the President of Kenya, and I am not going to ask for permission from anyone, whoever you are,” he said.

According to analysts, it is likely that Ruto will in the coming months resume developmental tours to the region to counter the narrative that he has abandoned it in favour of Nyanza and other regions that voted for the late Raila Odinga as he seeks support from the Orange Democratic Movement for his re-election bid.

This is expected to start in Nyandarua where the upcoming Ol Kalou by-election will test who between Ruto and Gachagua has superiority in the region’s politics.

This especially after Nyandarua Governor John Methu accused him of not fulfilling promises to tarmac roads and complete the Ol Kalou Level V Hospital to which he said he will answer through action.

Methu who was the first to speak, charged the mourners, after he accused President Ruto’s allies of developing a habit of insulting the former DP.

“I respect you, Mr President… but I do not fear you,” Mr Methu said, igniting political storm in the presence of President Ruto, his estranged former deputy, and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the tense requiem service for the late MP.

Senator Methu, who described Gachagua as the people’s deputy president, dared Ruto-allied leaders to speak ill of him during the requiem mass.

“(National Assembly Majority Leader) Kimani Ichungwa, I dare you insult the people’s deputy president in his presence today, here in Nyandarua and you will see fire…just dare,” said the senator amid cheers from the crowd.

During the face-off, political tensions flared dramatically as President Ruto and his former deputy clashed publicly.

Gachagua, who was not listed in the official programme, arrived early and took a seat at the main dais, later explaining his presence as a show of solidarity with the late MP.

Granted an opportunity to speak, the former Deputy president delivered a combative address, using the platform to reassert his influence in the Mt Kenya region and criticise allies of the President. He singled out National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, accusing him and others of betrayal.

“I told you, Mr President… the boys keeping you company will lead you astray,” Gachagua said, in remarks directed at Ruto, warning that the President had surrounded himself with the wrong advisers.

The tension was further evident as Ruto reportedly avoided greeting his former deputy despite sharing the same podium, underscoring the deepening rift between the two leaders.

The two leaders who shared a podium for the first time this year, engaged in a war of words over a myriad of issues, among them the 2024 impeachment of former president Rigathi Gachagua and the 2027 presidential contest.

Gachagua directed salvos at President Ruto, saying that he managed to impeach him from office but he cannot impeach him from the hearts of the people of Mount Kenya.

“You managed to hound me out of office, but as you can see the people of Mount Kenya still love me. I am still in people’s hearts.

“When l was being hounded out of office the late Kiaraho was intimidated and asked to take part in the illegal proceedings, but stayed firm. All the other MPs were paid to impeach me. He never betrayed me that is why l am here to mourn the hero,” stated Gachagua amid cheers from the crowd.

“We overwhelmingly voted for you, but ahead of the 2027 polls, you will have to convince us to give you a second term. You betrayed my people and hence lost the respect you had gotten,” added Gachagua.

Gachagua further asked President Ruto to tame his lieutenants led by Kimani Ichungwa to stop insulting him all the time.

He appealed to politicians to ensure that political differences do not turn into personal commentary against retired president Uhuru Kenyatta.

“We humbly ask the president that even if your people have issues with our community and me, let them refrain from criticising former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Uhuru Kenyatta is retired and should be given space to rest. He served visibly, and we ask that he be accorded respect,” Gachagua said.

And in a quick rejoinder, President Ruto told off his former deputy saying he cannot be drawn in personal wars and he cannot seek anybody’s permission to visit any part of the county as the Head of State.

On April 1, 2026 during the burial of former Senator Daniel Karaba at Njegas Primary School in Kirinyaga on April 1, 2026, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta cautioned residents of the Mt. Kenya region against repeating the “mistake” of the 2022 General Election and sweet-talking politicians ahead of the 2027 in a ceremony in which, he and Gachagua embraced each other despite the past vicious fallout and rallied the rich-vote Mt Kenya vote bloc to unite with other Kenyans.