Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday pleaded with Mt Kenya voters to adopt him as the region’s kingpin, saying he is ready to unite them with other communities to deliver the presidency in 2027, a voting bloc he suggested was key to his plans.
“Allow me to plan our 2027 contest. Let me coordinate the drive to get loyal leaders who cannot betray our interests. I beg you to uplift me as your leader. I have placed my position, life, and wealth in danger for the sake of this community,” he said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at Mawingu Trail on the slopes of Mt Kenya on March 18, 2023.
Photo credit: DPCS
He added, “Our secret weapon is Gema plus Akamba. Be wary of divisive political parties. If we stick to that script of unity with the Akamba, we shall prevail.”
Gema is a dated political name for the groupings of the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru and Akamba.
Mr Gachagua was speaking in Gatanga Constituency during the burial ceremony of five family members who died in a road accident on October 25, 2025.
They were among 17 passengers returning from a dowry negotiation ceremony in Kiambu County when their vehicle plunged into River Kiama in Murang’a County.
The dead were Amos Kihara Kamau, Alice Wambui Mwangi, Elijah Kamau Macharia, Peter Mwangi Macharia, and Paul Karanja Macharia.
Mr Gachagua was making his first public appearance since opposition leader Raila Odinga died on October 15, 2025, an event he boycotted, skipping both the body viewing and burial ceremonies.
In his speech, Mr Gachagua said he remains the most passionate leader in the mountain region in pursuing the community’s interests.
Mr Gachagua, who has since formed the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) as Mt Kenya’s special-purpose vehicle, said he is seeking a clean sweep in all Mt Kenya elective positions come 2027.
Heightened maneouvres in the Mt Kenya region seem designed to set the ground for an impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Photo credit: John Nyagah | Nation Media Group
Mr Gachagua is facing stiff opposition over control of the Mt Kenya vote from President William Ruto’s loyalists and the Jubilee Party, led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Jubilee Party, whose support base lies in the Mt Kenya region, has since endorsed former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i as its deputy leader and 2027 presidential candidate.
Mr Gachagua, who was impeached in October last year after serving as President Ruto’s deputy for two years, also dismissed rumours that he is holding reunion talks with his former boss.
Rumours had intensified online, suggesting that Mr Gachagua might have held reunion talks with President Ruto on the night of October 27, 2025.
He said, “It is not in my wildest dreams to seek a reunion with President Ruto and his allies. They remain my top priority to work towards their defeat in 2027.”
Mr Gachagua said, “If you allow me to lead you into the 2027 duel, I will ensure that we are united to a man and combine efforts with our Akamba neighbours to deliver a win.”
He added that the Akamba are part of the Mt Kenya communities, “and in that unity, we will venture out to seek more partnerships with other communities and their leaders for an emphatic win.”
The hat of Kenya's former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is placed on top of his coffin during his funeral service at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, in Kisumu County, Kenya, October 18, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
He said he had opted to remain silent during Mr Odinga’s mourning and burial period, not for anything sinister but in the interest of peace.
“I have been silent for two weeks. I have been watching others dance — not because I don’t want to or don’t know how to dance... I just chose to be a witness,” he said.
There was a tense moment when Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC) Board Chair Mr Sam Waweru confronted Gachagua, telling him to his face that “we will stop that Wantam reggae.”
But mourners booed Mr Waweru, accusing him of expressing views not shared by many in attendance.
Mr Gachagua, with the help of mourners, had Mr Waweru stand up to be counselled.
“Let us advise this man because he is an upcoming leader. We have a slaughter government. We cannot forgive a slaughterhouse for our children. You cannot come here to lecture us about a government working overtime to humiliate us as a community,” Mr Gachagua told the standing Mr Waweru.
Mr Waweru had delivered greetings from President Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and Woman Representative Betty Maina.
He said, “We are collectively agitating for service delivery first, and later we can play politics... otherwise, just know that this Wantam reggae will die.”
But Mr Gachagua said, “We cannot be compelled to follow a government that is killing our agricultural sector, discriminating against us, and badmouthing us in public rallies.”
Mr Gachagua said the collapse of the Sudan tea market has denied area farmers more than Sh60 billion in returns.
“Before you come to lecture us about the goodness of this government that has been abducting and murdering our children, tell it to allocate money to waive our coffee debts as well as lend to our farmers,” Mr Gachagua said.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
Mr Gachagua also took issue with President Ruto’s aide, Mr Farouk Kibet, accusing him of leading public campaigns against Mt Kenya people.
“We demand that Mr Kibet cease ridiculing Mt Kenya people and their leaders. He should stop accusing us of having dirty souls. We voted for his boss in 2023. It is only that democracy allows us to vote for someone else in 2027,” he said.
He added, “President Ruto will know that our hearts are not dirty, as Farouk says, in 2027, since we will, in good faith, vote for someone else — in even greater numbers than we did for him in 2022.”
Mr Gachagua vowed to ensure that President Ruto gets the lowest vote share possible in the Mt Kenya region in 2027.
