Gachagua: Jailing me won’t change my stand
By Sharon Atieno, July 4, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed threats of arrest, declaring that jail will not force him to abandon his political beliefs as he accused the government of intimidation during the Wamunyoro Consultative Meeting with leaders from Githunguri Constituency.
Speaking on Saturday, July 4, 2026, during a Wamunyoro Consultative Meeting with leaders from Githunguri Constituency, Gachagua claimed he had previously been pursued by police but insisted he would not be cowed by threats of detention.
Even if you jail me, my stand will not change
“Watu wa polisi walinitafuta. Ruto ananitukana ati taniweka kwa cell,” Gachagua said, referring to what he described as repeated threats of being locked up.
The former Deputy President said he was no stranger to detention, recalling previous arrests when he was defending President William Ruto before the two leaders’ political fallout.
“Cell ya Kenya siku hizi ni kama ya hoteli, iko na ulinzi. Niliwekwa cell mara nne nikitetea Ruto. Nilifungwa four days hapo Gigiri. Ata ukinifunga, msimamo wangu hautabadilika,” he told the gathering, drawing applause from supporters.
I was jailed four times defending Ruto
Gachagua said his past experiences in police custody had prepared him for any future arrests, maintaining that detention would not deter him from criticising the government or pursuing his political agenda.
He also alleged that there had been a wider political scheme targeting the Kikuyu community, claiming he frustrated those plans and had since become the target of attacks from senior government officials.
“Walitaka kuangusha watu wa Kikuyu. Wacha tu huyu mtu arudi miaka tano amalize. Ndiyo maana waziri ananitukana juu niliharibu mpango walikuwa nayo,” he said, without naming the Cabinet Secretary he was referring to or providing evidence to support the allegation.
They wanted to bring the Kikuyu people down
The remarks come as Gachagua continues to host consultative meetings with political leaders and grassroots supporters at his Wamunyoro home, where he has repeatedly criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration and outlined his political strategy ahead of the next General Election.
His latest comments are expected to further deepen the public fallout between him and President Ruto, whose once-close political alliance has deteriorated into an increasingly bitter exchange of accusations.
Ruto won’t get 1,000 votes in any Mt Kenya constituency
Addressing the Githunguri leaders, Gachagua claimed residents of the vote-rich region had already resolved to reject the president at the ballot, regardless of government development projects or campaign spending.
“Kura ya kufukuza mtu ni tamu. The mountain people love that vote. Ya kufukuza mtu aende nyumbani, wanafurahia sana,” he said.
In one of his strongest political predictions yet, Gachagua asserted that Ruto would fail to garner even 1,000 votes in any constituency across the Mt Kenya region.
The remarks come amid heightened political mobilisation in the Mt Kenya region as Gachagua continues hosting consultative meetings at his Wamunyoro residence following his decision to temporarily suspend nationwide opposition rallies. The meetings are part of his efforts to consolidate support for the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election.