A day after featuring in an explosive interview, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua took his President William Ruto’s one-term campaign to Kangema, Murang’a County.

Accompanied by his lieutenant on Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) party leader claimed that Ruto had laid out a deliberate scheme aimed at creating a rift in the vast Mt Kenya region.

He told the residents that Ruto engineered the Mt Kenya East vs Mt Kenya West debate to create fallout in Central Kenya. Gachagua further claimed that Ruto, through his allies, was pushing for the disintegration of Kiambu, Murang’a, and Kirinyaga counties, which are among the strongest voting blocs.

While warning the residents against falling victim to that trap, he also indicated that Ruto could attempt to register new parties in the region to divide the Mt Kenya vote.

The former DP cautioned the residents against joining parties popularised by Ruto’s advisor, Moses Kuria, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo and that associated with Mwangi Kiunjuri.

“Sisi tusikubali kugawanywa. Uyu Kasongo alitaka kugawanya hii Mulima ati Mt Kenya East na Mt Kenya West na hatuwezi kubali kwa maana tutaangukia mtego wake,” Gachagua stated.

“Alikuwa amepanga kugawanya watu hapa Murang’a Kirinyaga na Kiambu ndio hatukalie tukamwambia tumekuonea 18. Sisi tunataka tushikane ndio kwa maana tumeanzisha chama yetu.

“Na Kasongo amepanga kuanzisha chama mingi; Ile ya Kuria ni chama ya Kasongo, ile ya Kiunjuri ni chama ya Kasongo na ile ya Kabogo ni chama ya Kasongo. Iko ingine mbili anapanga kuandikisha hapa Murang’a,” he insisted.

Which loosely translates to: Do not accept to be divided. Kasongo had planned the mountain with Mt Kenya East and Mt Kenya West debate, but we cannot accept because we will fall into his trap,” Gachagua stated.

“He had planned to divide Muranga, Kirinyaga, and Kiambu residents so that he could control us, but we saw that from afar. We want to unite; that is why we have launched our party.

“Kasongo has planned to launch many parties: Moses Kuria’s party is his, that of Kiunjuri is also his and that of William Kabogo. He is further planning to start two new parties here in Murang’a,” he insisted.

Splashing money

At the same time, he warned the residents against pledging their loyalty to Ruto over money. He claimed that the head of state had deployed his allies with money to lure Mt Kenya voters.

However, he insisted that the money cannot wash away what he termed as betrayal. He unequivocally reiterated his stance to make Ruto a one-term president.

To achieve his goal, he implored the young people to register as voters and come out in large numbers come 2027 general elections.