Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua have struck a potential political partnership and vowed to liberate the country from what they termed as oppressive governance.
Speaking in Kirinyaga County on Saturday, the two leaders declared that they will form a formidable force with other like-minded political leaders across the country in a bid to kick out President William Ruto from power in 2027 polls.
"I came calling on Karua because where we are as a country we need to reach out to leaders to get counsel, advise and pull our minds together and put our resources to liberate this country," said Mr Gachagua.
Gachagua meets Karua at her Kirinyaga home
"You know where we are as a country, payslips have been raided, businesses have been shut down and there is no money in circulation, every Kenyans are crying. This calls upon great men and women of courage to rise up and lead Kenyan people in liberation," he continued.
The two leaders stressed that people were suffering everywhere and Kenyans should rise up and reject Dr Ruto's leadership.
"In 2022 we were political rivals and people thought we can't come together, where we are we don't have a choice but to join hands," added Mr Gachagua.
The duo observed that things were bad in the country and Kenyans should not agree to be silenced. They warned that unless Kenyans united the country will collapse.
"The way things are now,there will be no country.The country is on down trend in terms of economy, there is theft of public funds and intolerance.The young ones are being abducted.Colonialists never went for our young ones but the current government is doing that. This is unacceptable," said Mr Gachagua.
"A journey of uniting all Kenyans and liberating the country has began. Everyone of good will should join hands to push back Dr Ruto' s regime.The Ruto's regime is determined to oppress Kenyans, it is a merciless regime that resembles the oppressive colonial regime," said Ms Karua.
Ms Karua accused the government of raiding pay cheques of employees which are already battered without giving commensurate services.
Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua (right) welcomes former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his wife Pastor Dorcas Rigathi to her home in Kirinyaga county on January 25, 2025.
Photo credit: George Munene | Nation Media Group
Further she observed that access to health services has been diminished by Social Health Insurance Fund ( SHIF) while education for the children was deteriorating because funds had not been released to schools and universities and Kenyans were disillusioned.
The two leaders lamented that detention without trial has returned, adding that the issue was worrying.
"Our youths are being abducted and executed.Others being locked up in darkrooms and held without trial. We must regroup and say no to bad and oppressive governance," said Ms Karua.
Earlier, Mr Gachagua lashed out at Dr Ruto, dismissing him as an angry leader.
Defending Mt Kenya, Mr Gachagua told Ruto to stop branding residents from the area as tribalist.
"The Mountain voted for President Ruto 87 per cent.Had we been tribal we would not have voted for him. We are nationalists.Dr Ruto is just bitter and frustrated because we the Mountain has abandoned him because he betrayed us.The problem he is facing is for his own making.He cheated us and he must face our wrath," said Mr Gachagua.
Mr Gachagua arrived at Ms Karua's Kimunye village home in Kirinyaga county at 11.30am and held a closed door meeting where they successfully buried their hatchets after being at loggerheads since the 2022 polls.
They later emerged from the meeting and announced their new unity which they said would transform the country which they claimed had been ruined by Kenya Kwanza government.
To deepen the new found political friendship Mr Gachagua who was accompanied by Kikuyu elders and MPS, presented a sheep to Ms Karua.
The meeting of the two political rivals turned friends sent tongues wagging in the sprawling village where Karua was born and brought up.
Further the two leaders shared a goat meat and ate together to strengthen their new unity to fight for the rights of Kenyans.
Mr Gachagua described Ms Karua as a courageous politicians who had fought for freedoms of Kenyans without fear or favour and insisted on the respect of human rights.
Mr Gachagua wass accompanied by MPS, Gathoni Was Muchomba (Githunguri), Jane Kihara (Naivasha), Benjamin Gathiru (Embakasi Central) and James Gakuya (Embakasi North) and Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri).
Others were Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango and Woman Representative Njeri Maina as well as Kirinyaga Jubilee chairman Mureithi Kang'ara.
Mr Gachagua and Gachagua said they will give the Mountain people and Kenyans the political direction to take.
