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Allies of President William Ruto from Mount Kenya region could face an uphill task in their bid to seek re-election in the 2027 polls even as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua moves to consolidate the region.

Gachagua has been crisscrossing the region with a clarion call that those surrounding his former boss have not only betrayed the community but also sold their conscience.

Last year, several lawmakers from Mt Kenya region, including those from Gachagua’s Nyeri backyard, voted to impeach the former DP, a move that has not settled down well with the locals.

The former DP and Mathira MP has wedged a war against his former boss Ruto and leaders allied to him from the region, describing them as betrayers of the community and hitting them against the people.

Facing backlash

Since after the impeachment, several of the President’s allies who have attempted to hold public rallies in their constituencies have faced a backlash of being heckled and in some cases even chased away.

A number of legislators from Mt Kenya region who supported the impeachment of Gachagua have since opted to run their official errands from their offices in Nairobi in a bid to avoid the wrath of their constituents.

Some of the lawmakers who have openly faced the wrath of their constituents in the recent past include Duncan Mathenge (Nyeri Town), Eric Wamumbi (Mathira), Betty Maina (Murang’a), George Gachagua (Ndaragwa), Faith Gitau (Nyandarua), Mary Maingi (Mwea) and Governor Cecily Mbarire (Embu) among others.

At a funeral in Embu town over the weekend, Gachagua took the opportunity to remind Ruto’s lieutenants from the region that the electorate will teach them a lesson at the ballot for betraying the community.

Gachagua has become a darling of the residents after his dramatic and historic impeachment as the country’s second in command last year, being the first DP to be hounded out of office under the new constitutional dispensation.

Betrayed community

The former DP was categorical that the MPs who voted to impeach him have remained silent despite the abductions and other atrocities committed by the current administration have betrayed and sold the soul of the community to the highest bidder.

The silence of the leaders in the face of abductions seems to have irked the former Mathira lawmaker who has now vowed to ensure that all those who voted in favour of his ouster are sent home in the next polls.

Gachagua said he will ensure all leaders elected in 2027 are properly vetted to avoid a repeat of what befell him.

According to Gachagua, his friends in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) turned foes took money, voted for his impeachment, and sold the community.

“The problem we are having is leaders who sell us as a community. They betrayed us, took money and sold the community. That is why we are in a deep problem as a community. Going forward, we want a calibre of leaders who will be elected to be tested and proven patriots who cannot sell the community for their own stomachs,” claimed Gachagua.

He reminded the electorate of how the current administration came to power through the church and bible and cautioned them not to be lied a second time.

“You MPs, how foolish can you be? Someone lied to us using the bible. You know he lied. And he is calling you again to lie to you. You are fighting your own brother. Now you have a problem with these people, Kenyans. You will face these people,” Gachagua said amid cheers from the crowd during a burial in Embu on Friday.

While hitting out at the Ruto’s political lieutenant from the area who have remained tight-lipped despite the wave abductions of the residents, Gachagua was categorical that the quality of leaders from the region has been wanting.

“Raila Odinga has never been president but he is in every government because of the quality of leaders he is taking to parliament. But look at us? We, go and pick anything. If you reach parliament, you find the quality of leaders is poor. Now, next election, 2027, we shall measure. We shall vet all of them properly. ..Can you sell the community or not?” said Gachagua.

He added: “You people (MPs) can go walk and talk out there but you will come back here. And things will be tough. The biggest loss we got is the quality of leaders that we took to the Senate and National Assembly.”

Overwhelmingly voted

The former DP spoke at a time when the rebellion is growing against Ruto in the region that overwhelmingly voted for him in the last election.

Already, some pro-Ruto MPs from the region have started facing the wrath of the locals. The residents have twice rejected the President’s speech as a clear display of their anger with the head of state.

During the event in Embu, the residents shouted down Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi as he prepared to read the president’s condolence message. “I have been given a message of condolence from His Excellency the President…” Muturi began, but the mourners had reservations.

Last month, Nyandarua residents rejected the President’s Jamhuri Day Speech after the locals caused an uproar, heckling and walking out of the venue.

In the same month, Embu residents shouted down President Ruto as he attempted to explain the controversial ‘Taifa Care’ programme.

In November last year, Nyeri Town residents shouted at and heckled their area MP Duncan Mathenge after he voted to impeach Gachagua.

Mathenge had made a trip to Nyeri Town Downstage to sympathize with matatu operators, who were being relocated to a different terminus.

However, the irate residents, who also included matatu operators, resorted to chants against Mathenge, with some labelling him a traitor for backing the impeachment motion against Rigathi Gachagua.