Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has embarked on mobilising Mt Kenya residents against President William Ruto , ahead of the 2027 General Election following his Ol Kalou by-election victory.
On Sunday, Mr Gachagua maintained that the Ol Kalou by-election was not a contest between political parties but a supremacy battle between President Ruto and the people of Mt Kenya region.
He took his tour to Kirinyaga and Embu counties, where he was accompanied by politicians who had campaigned in Ol Kalou. He said his next stop was Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties, in his quest to lock the mountain against Dr Ruto.
Mr Gachagua accused President Ruto of betraying the region which overwhelmingly voted for him in the 2022 election, saying the Mountain would remain united and make him a one-term president.
"After he took over power, he started showing disrespect to us by calling us tribalists and sacking our children from the police force and Kenya Revenue Authority. We will unite and make sure he goes home in 2027," he said, urging residents to protect their dignity by voting him out.
Mr Gachagua called for unity, saying the only way President Ruto would retain his seat is by dividing the Mountain.
Faces behind Ol Kalou by-election terror and bribery
He claimed the president was using Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku to divide the Mountain into West and East and National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wa to split Kiambu county vote.
Speaking on Sunday at ACK St.Thomas Cathedral in Kerugoya, Kirinyaga Central Constituency, Gachagua said Mt Kenya residents rejected government goodies in Ol-Kalou because the contest was personal to the community.
"I left the Ol Kalou campaign to Nyandarua Senator John Methu because I knew I was not the one in the contest; it was the community vs Ruto," he said, adding that what happened in Ol Kalou would be replicated in the 2027 General Election.
"In the mountain I had 18 elected leaders to defend the mountain, but with the Ol Kalou MP-elect, I now have 19 leaders to defend Mt Kenya. We’re getting stronger by the day," he said.
He alleged that the government spent over Ksh 15 billion in the constituency dishing out cash and on projects, but UDA only managed 5,000 votes, saying the message residents sent was that money and gifts cannot buy Kenyans’ independence to vote for their leaders or choice.
He alleged that leaders from President Ruto's camp are now seeking to join him after they were reprimanded over the loss.
"There is a PS from this region who called saying he wants to join me so that he can vie for Governor. Seven MPs from Ruto's side want to defect, but I told them to come during the day and not at night so that they can be photographed and be seen by the President," he said.
The former Deputy President also raised concerns over alleged police brutality during the by-election, claiming two people were killed and women were raped during the Ol Kalou mini poll.
"Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is telling us to report those who killed two people in Ol Kalou and raped women to the police station. How can you report to the same police officers who attacked you?" Gachagua wondered.
He said there is a growing problem of government-sponsored goons, saying if not checked, the country is likely to descend into a state of anarchy.
Mr Gachagua criticized Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and four Members of Parliament from the county for allegedly failing to protect local rice farmers.
"Sadly, the governor and the MPs have allowed imported rice," he said.
He maintained that Mt Kenya is united and cannot be divided by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku.
"Mt Kenya people are speaking in one voice and CS Ruku and Kindiki cannot divide it. Let us register as voters and vote out bad leaders," he said.
He asked residents to elect Kirinyaga Senator James Kamau Murango as Governor in 2027, retain Njeri Maina as Woman Representative, and elect Baragwi MCA David Mathenge as Senator. Mr Murango asked the people of the mountain to follow the example of Ol-Kalou voters who fought against the state machinery to deliver victory.
