Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is slowly cultivating a cult-like following in the Mt Kenya region if recent happenings during his public appearances are anything to go by.
His supporters believe that If the former deputy president plays his cards right and sustains his popularity, he is likely to call the shots in Central Kenya in the run-up to the 2027 General Election — with some hoping he will soar to the level of Kenneth Matiba in the early 1990s.
However, President Ruto’s loyalists in Mt Kenya region have dismissed Mr Gachagua’s popularity, saying the people of the region will not follow him blindly.
Mr Gachagua is on record declaring that his strategy is to have his loyalists elected to various elective positions. He has also vowed to make Dr William Ruto , who got 47 per cent of his vote in 2022 from Mt Kenya region, a one-term President . Since Mr Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024, President Ruto and his allies have faced hostility from the people of Mt Kenya region who view the ouster as a betrayal.
Aware of what is likely to befall those who go against the political wave, sitting and aspiring leaders are positioning themselves strategically, sacrificing time and resources to appear close to Mr Gachagua by visiting him at his rural home at Wamunyoro or being fiercely defensive during television talk shows or at public events.
The political power the impeached deputy president’s supporters say he is wielding in the region could see elected leaders and those aspiring for seats troop to the party he promises to launch by May this year “after wider consultations”, with the potential to cripple the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
During a recent burial ceremony in Laikipia County where Mr Gachagua was chief guest, leaders allied to him spared no chance in declaring themselves Itungati (loyal ground soldiers) while issuing a warning to those appearing to be fence-sitting.
Mr Gachagua’s allies led their colleagues in paying homage to him, with each speaker being required to state their stand.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, one of Mr Gachagua’s loyalists while throwing a jibe at his Murang’a counterpart Irungu Kang’ata, warned that the development record would not be the barometer to be used on gauging who would be re-elected.
“When Gachagua comes to Murang'a and asks me to follow him, I will do so. For now, I am concentrating on service delivery for my people including implementing school feeding programmes by ensuring our young learners take porridge while in school," Mr Kang’ata had said earlier.
Mr Kahiga, amid loud cheers from excited mourners, told his Murang’a counterpart that “from all corners of the mountain we shall be given political direction by our leader who is seated right here.”
“I want to tell Governor Kang’ata that you will complete all the development projects including giving porridge to pupils but you will be sent home if you fail to join our bus under the stewardship of Gachagua,” he said.
The UDA party seems to be watching Mr Gachagua’s moves keenly and has skipped grassroots elections in the region that were scheduled to start in April.
Former Laikipia Woman Rep Cate Waruguru, an ally of Mr Gachagua, claimed there are no UDA supporters in the mountain save for party chairperson Ms Cecily Mbarire.
“Failing to conduct UDA elections in Mt Kenya is a clear indication that the party leader has admitted this region has no supporters and residents here are waiting for Rigathi Gachagua to give us direction,” Ms Waruguru said.
In recent months, President Rut’s allies in the region have tactfully resorted to using the words “the government we voted for” during speeches instead of mentioning the ruling party.
The appointment of Prof Kithure Kindiki, who also hails from the mountain, has done little to soothe the hostility and criticism directed at the Ruto administration.
But Dr Ruto’s allies said the people of Mt Kenya region are known to make their own decisions rather than follow dealers. In the 2022 elections, the region defied former President Uhuru Kenyatta who fronted Mr Raila Odinga for the President, and voted for Dr Ruto almost to a man.
During the Laikipia burial, Laikipia East Mwangi Kiunjuri, his Laikipia North counterpart Sarah Korere and Laikipia Woman Rep Jane Kagiri said they would stick with the President despite the hostility directed at them.
Mr Kiunjuri, who was sharing a platform with Mr Gachagua for the first time since his impeachment, endured open hostility even as he bravely defended his association with Dr Ruto.
“We voted for this government so that it can fulfil the election pledges among the upgrading of roads, provision of clean water and electricity connection. I will always walk in the rain and not walk out of the rain, hence I will stick with this government so that my voters can reap from the national government development agenda,” said Mr Kiunjuri amidst the heckling.
Nyeri town MP Duncan Mathenge termed the declaration as “unfortunate, bordering on the worship of an individual” and dismissed the notion as “conceited”.
“What people who subscribe to that notion don’t know is that the people of this region are not interested in following individuals and history is there for us to learn from,” he said.
The MP singled out then Nyeri town MP Esther Murugu whose loyalty to former President Uhuru Kenyatta in the run-up to the 2017 General Election was unquestionable but she lost to a newcomer, Mr Wambugu Ngunjiri.
“They (Mt Kenya voters) ask themselves what that person has done for them and what his/her future plans are,” Mr Mathenge said in a phone interview with Nation.Africa.
“Let him tell us what he will do for our people. We want to hear him talk about development and not loyalty to him as a person,” he said.
But Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia said Mr Gachagua’s supporters were not following him blindly, adding that the former deputy president’s actions spoke for him.
“Gachagua opposed eviction of Kenyans without being given an alternative, which is the right thing to do. He has been vocal against over-taxation which Kenyans are opposed to, which means that he is championing the rights of Kenyans. That is why the people of this region will follow him,” Mr Kaguchia said.
Ms Waruguru says the Gachagua-led movement is not purely a Mt Kenya issue which will bring on board people from other regions including Ukambani, Western Kenya, Gusiiland and other regions. She warned those not in Gachagua’s camp that “choices have consequences” for the next elections.
