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Gachagua to Mt Kenya: Have six children per family, I will make education free in 2027
Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua with Aloise Kinyanjui in Gatundi South during a dowry ceremony on February 7, 2026.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday revived his talk on ‘re-population’ of the Mt Kenya region, asking families to get six children on average, saying it was a critical plank in ensuring a big say on the national stage.
Speaking in Kiambu County where he attended dowry payment for Mr Aloise Kinyanjui's wife Ms Anne Wangari, the former Deputy President told the populous region that "our future is in our unity and population".
"As your community leader I am directing you to seriously consider giving birth to at least six children per family. All those fertile men and women in this community, it is over to you," he said.
Mr Gachagua advised couples from the region not to fear hard economic times since "you are hardworking and enterprising, it won't be a big issue bringing them up".
He added that tomorrow looks brighter "since if you make me your President in the 2027 General Election I will immediately reinstate the Linda Mama Maternal Health facility that used to make giving birth free of charge in all public hospitals".
Mr Gachagua added that he will reinstate free primary and secondary education as well as restructure higher education funding to ensure access to education to all deserving cases.
"You have no excuse not to add more babies. I soon want to see the evidence of couples heeding to my call of a pregnancies littered Mt Kenya...You Mr Kinyanjui, don't let me down. I want to soon see your wife develop a bulge..." he said.
Mr Kinyanjui is the younger brother to former President William Ruto's economic advisor, Moses Kuria.
Big Six communities
In a country where political power is won and sustained by tribal numbers, the Agikuyu community is the largest, making up around 17-22 percent of the population but highly threatened by emerging blocs.
The Luhya are the second largest followed by the Kalenjin, Luos, Akamba and the Somalis to close the Big Six communities.
Mr Gachagua cryptically said: "Those men yet to return their tools of farming back to the stores should heed the word of your community leader and add babies".
From right: Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui and United Opposition leaders Justin Muturi, Martha Karua, Fred Matiangi and Rigathi Gachagua during a funeral service in Muranga County on February 6, 2026.
Tokens for pregnant mothers
The issue has been attracting spirited support with elders like former Provincial Commissioner Mr Joseph Kaguthi and Githunguri MP Ms Gathoni wa Muchomba publicly advocating for polygamy to boost population numbers.
Other politicians like Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo and Maragua MP Mary wa Maua have been giving pregnant mothers tokens of appreciation ranging between Sh2, 000 and Sh5, 000 as an enticement for population explosion.
A county like Murang'a has been implementing a monetary policy of both pre and post natal support for pregnant mothers.
But Mt Kenya population growth has been cited to suffer erratic fortunes owing to reckless alcoholism, use of contraceptives as well as high rates of crime that sees productive youths jailed, gunned down or lynched.
Mr Kinyanjui, Mr Kuria’s brother, caused ripples in DCP when he joined it last month and announced interest to vie for Juja parliamentary seat.
The incumbent MP Mr George Koimburi who until then was a staunch Gachagua supporter, left in a huff accusing DCP of hawking contest tickets to highest bidders, claiming that Mr Kinyanjui had given Sh5 million so as to be given contest right.
But Mr Gachagua trashed the claim saying "Mr Koimburi was demanding a direct nomination ticket which we refused and after all, we suspected he had all along been government spy in our party".
Mr Gachagua said he is ready to be tagged as a tribalist "if loving and speaking about my community values is the applying measure".
Mr Gachagua said the region and the country at large continue to lose young people in avoidable circumstances like extrajudicial killings, substance abuse and reckless government that allows young men to be recruited as mercenaries in warring countries like Russia.
"President Ruto should be accountable for the Kenyans dying in Russia fighting Ukraine. The buck stops with him, he should order a manhunt for all those Kenyans and they be brought back home. They left the country in the full knowledge of the government," he said.
He said he will defend against plans by President Ruto and his team to “split Mt Kenya into little cocoons.”
"I will not accept. President Ruto and his loyalists must know that the Mountain is not about its subunits. It is not about its boundaries. It is about area people. I won't let anyone divide the people," Mr Gachagua said.
‘Raila of Mt Kenya’
He said he aspires to build a Mt Kenya that is ran politically like the Nyanza region used to during the times of Mr Raila Odinga as their community leader.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addresses mourners during the burial ceremony of John Muhia, who was the father of Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia, in Malewa Ranch in Nyandarua County on January 7, 2026.
"They were not winning the presidency but they would end up in all governments because of having the numbers in a big party. That is what I seek to achieve with DCP," he said.
He said he will protect residents of the region like Uhuru Kenyatta and Kimani Wamatangi from government persecution.
"Especially don't persecute Wamatangi, he is our son. Kiambu County assembly has done good to refuse being brined so as to impeach him. The MCAs in Kiambu should resist being be stupid like those leaders who received money to impeach me," he said.
Mr Gachagua further heaped pressure on President Ruto regarding the January 25 Witima Anglican church in Othaya, Nyeri county where rogue police officers backed by goons using live bullets, teargas and stones attacked worshippers.
"The mission was to assassinate me as I worshipped in the church. President Ruto should vindicate himself. If he did not approve that attack, he should order for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. It is only through deterrent justice against the perpetrators that we can say the president was not involved," he said.
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