Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka will have to double votes in the Ukambani voting bloc to qualify for support from Mount Kenya region in the 2027 General Election, at least according to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Mr Gachagua, who was impeached in October, said Wednesday that the current two million votes in Ukambani are "not enough" to propel Mr Musyoka to State House.
“Leadership and politics is about numbers. You need to register as voters. I want to challenge you to know if you want us to be together in government, you have to register all your youth to vote. Do not wait until the last minute. Once you get 3.5 million to 4 million votes, look for me. In the Mount Kenya region, we have set out to grow our numbers to 10 million votes,” he said while revealing that talks are underway with Mr Musyoka.
He added: “We are talking with Kalonzo and other Kenyans such as Eugene Wamalwa in other parts of the country. We are talking as Kenyans to look for a way to revamp our economy and end the culture of lies in Kenya."
Mr Gachagua was speaking at Kyanguyu Secondary School in Makueni County during the burial of Mama Agnes Mwikali Muia, the mother of Bishop Francis Mulinge, where talk of the relationship between the Kamba community and Mount Kenya region dominated the service.
Allies of both Mr Gachagua and Mr Musyoka called for two to unite ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
As they took turns to criticise President William Ruto, whom they accused of misrule, the two camps concurred that the duo would be a formidable team should they come together.
While throwing the occasional jibe at his former boss Dr Ruto, Mr Gachagua urged Mr Musyoka to cut his ties with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
"As (Githunguri MP Gathoni) Wamuchomba will tell you, we do not associate with losers. Wherever you will see us, that will be the winning team," he said.
Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo had assured Mr Gachagua that the Kamba community was ready to support the Mount Kenya community in its future political ambitions should they support Mr Musyoka.
Dorcas Rigathi: I regret campaigning for Ruto
Mrs Dorcas Rigathi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Mr Gachagua’s wife, Bishop Dorcas Rigathi, joined clerics and politicians present in criticising President Ruto, saying she regretted being among the religious leaders who campaigne for him.
“We have been blamed for preaching to Kenyans that the Kenya Kwanza administration would be progressive and not destructive. We apologise because when you meet someone, you cannot know his character. The Bible says the heart of man is desperately wicked. But when you see someone you cannot see the difference,” she said.
She was responding to former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu who had warned clerics against “misleading Kenyans again” to support President Ruto.
“All of us in the Mount Kenya region have abandoned Ruto for embarrassing Mr Gachagua. We do not want to see his face at all. We are fully behind Kalonzo,” he said.
According to Kiambu Senator Karangu Thwangwa, who was also present at the burial, President Ruto settled on someone from Ukambani region to move the impeachment motion against Mr Gachagua so as to dent Mr Musyoka’s chances in the 2027 State House race
“When President Ruto planned to impeach Mr Gachagua, he had someone else in mind to move the motion. When he realised that the Kamba community was planning to unite with the Mount Kenya community, he picked a Kamba (Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse) to move the motion so that the Mt Kenya community could hate them. We cannot hate you,” Mr Thang’wa said.
