Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday gave the strongest indication of the direction he wants his supporters in Mt Kenya to take as he fired warning shots at leaders allied to his former boss President William Ruto to prepare for a political bloodbath.
Speaking at Matanya PCEA Church in Laikipia County during a Sunday service, the former DP promised to announce the political party he intends to use to mobilise leaders as they plan to exit the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
“In two weeks, I will give you direction and I will do it in a live television interview. Currently, I am still consulting but early next month I will make a pronouncement,” he said, flanked by several of his allies from the region.
Several leaders who spoke during the function appeared to pressurise Mr Gachagua to make the long-awaited announcement particularly the political party he would wish his supporters to associate with, whether it is an existing party or a new one.
Former Laikipia Women Representative Cate Waruguru, who had hosted the former DP, hinted the party of choice for the region has a blue colour.
It is not clear whether Mr Gachagua and his allies had settled on former President Mwai Kibaki’s Party of National Unity (PNU) or if they would go ahead and launch a new one.
Leaders who spoke during the function, including aspirants for various political seats, heaped pressure on Mr Gachagua to name his political party of choice as soon as possible.
The former DP indicated that he would lead the new political party and once he puts into place the necessary structures, he would reach out to other like-minded Kenyans to join or form a formidable force capable of unseating President Ruto in 2027.
He said negotiations with leaders in other parts of the country were in top gear to put together a formidable force.
“Raila Odinga (former Prime Minister) is never elected to Parliament but he has loyal leaders right from the grassroots. The mountain region will never repeat the mistakes of 2022 when we rode on someone’s bus. After making him president, William Ruto started betraying us immediately,” said Mr Gachagua in an indication that even if he fails to seek an elective seat, he is determined to be the region’s kingpin.
"Those MPs who are singing to the tune of the president should prepare to go home in 2027. I call upon my supporters to vote them out when the time comes," he added.
If Mr Gachagua is not cleared by the courts, where he is fighting his impeachment, he will legally be barred from contesting a political seat, meaning that he might play the role of a kingmaker in the 2027 elections.
The former DP also revealed how he started differing with President Ruto after the 2022 general election.
He said soon after assuming power, President Ruto had initially planned that no leader would be selected to represent the region at the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala).
“The first sign of betrayal by this government was during the selection of Eala MPs where we had agreed on those to take the seats but he ended up deceiving me,” he said.
“I questioned him after failing to get a representative from the mountain region and eventually I had to force my way and that was when we got two slots. From that moment, I realised the president did not care about our interest but just used our votes to get him to the State House.”
Mr Gachagua also warned authorities against the revival of criminal groups, some that were operational during the regime of late President Daniel Moi— such as Mungiki which was led by Maina Njenga.
Mr Njenga has however distanced himself from Mungiki, saying he leads a group of law-abiding young people who don’t engage in crime.
Mr Njenga, who has openly declared his support for President Ruto, on Saturday led tens of youth to disrupt a prayer meeting at Kamukunji Grounds in Nyeri Town where Pastor Dorcas Rigathi was in attendance.
Pastor Dorcas had to be evacuated from the venue as tension rose after Njenga’s followers appeared to take control of the prayer meeting.
“History is repeating itself since the same gangs were used to terrorise government critics by late President Moi.
So those in authority should know that by sponsoring criminal gangs and goons, they are becoming unpopular,” warned Mr Gachagua.
The Sunday service at Matanya was equally tense after word went around that some youths affiliated with Mr Njenga had planned to invade the church service.
However, in the absence of police officers, local youths took charge of security arrangements where they manned the only entry into the venue and screened everyone before being let in.
