Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that President William Ruto was too stressed to attend church on Sunday, following a difficult political visit to Meru County.

Speaking at AIPCA St. Mary’s Church in Buuri Constituency, Meru County, on June 22, 2025, Gachagua said Ruto was rattled by the warm reception opposition leaders received in the region, and is now facing the reality of losing support in Mt Kenya.

“Sasa jana nimeambiwa na watu wako unapigia watu wote kelele ni stress yenye ulitoka nayo Meru. Hata leo umesema huendi kanisa.”

Translation: “Yesterday I was told by your people that you were calling everyone, shouting because of the stress you left Meru with. Today you even said you won’t go to church.”

Gachagua said that no matter how much money Ruto spends in the region, the damage has already been done and Mt Kenya voters have made up their minds.

“I want to promise you William Ruto, even if you spend Ksh100 billion in this mountain… this mountain is gone.”

Matatu metaphor for Ruto

In a symbolic analogy, Gachagua compared Ruto’s political journey in Mt Kenya to a matatu (public transport vehicle) in Eastleigh that keeps changing route numbers but never changes driver or conductor.

“Ukiingilia pale Koja Mosque,gari iko number nine, unaenda mpaka mlango kubwa hadi St. Teresas, gari ni number nine. Ukifika pale garage ya zamani ya City Bus, gari ni ile ile, driver ni yule yule, makanga ni yule yule. Ile namba tisa inabadilishwa inakuwa namba sita.”

Translation: “If you enter at Koja Mosque the car is number nine, you go to Mlango Kubwa, at St. Teresa’s, still number 9, when you get to the old City Bus garage, it’s the same vehicle, same driver, same conductor. The only thing that changes is that Route 9 becomes Route 6.”

He warned that Ruto’s refusal to address concerns in the region is what has cost him the mountain vote.