Gachagua scoffs at Ruto amid tussle over Mt Kenya’s political control ahead of 2027

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has intensified his political offensive against President William Ruto, dismissing claims of waning influence in the Mt Kenya region amid an escalating power struggle ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during a rally in Makueni County on Monday, March 30, 2026,  Gachagua scoffed at the President’s recent remarks, accusing him of misrepresenting the situation on the ground. He claimed leaders allied to Ruto had been rejected by residents in the Mt Kenya region.

“I hear Kasongo (Ruto) saying that I have driven him out of the mountain. He went there with those MPs of his who are traitors. They were heckled and told to leave. Now he says things have become difficult in the mountain and that he will relocate here to Mbooni and Makueni to come and speak about what?” Gachagua told the crowd.

This comes as a deepening rift within the ruling coalition, with Mt Kenya emerging as a critical battleground that could determine future political alignments.

A high-stakes political chessboard is quietly taking shape across the country, following the launch of a new voter registration drive by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), as both the government and opposition factions are racing to secure millions of new voters in preparation for the 2027 polls.

Meanwhile, Kenyan youth are increasingly mobilising around civic participation, popularising slogans such as Niko Kadi and Tuko Kadi to encourage voter registration. The campaign reflects growing political awareness among first-time voters and unregistered citizens.

 Just a day ago, the Democracy for the Citizens (DCP ) party leader delivered a stinging warning to Ruto, asserting that the Head of State would struggle to win even 5 per cent of votes in Mount Kenya.

Speaking to supporters in Kirinyaga County on Saturday, March 28, 2026, Gachagua described Ruto as an outsider in the region and challenged him to confront him directly rather than attacking him from afar.

“Nataka nikwaambie William Ruto, mimi Riggy G nikiwa nyumbani hapa Kirinyaga, nikiwa mtoto ya Mau Mau, nakwambia leo mchana, ukipata five per cent ya kura hapa mlimani, Riggy G hapana mwanaume,” he declared.

Gachagua also criticised the Head of State for spreading falsehoods about the coffee sector and claimed the president mismanaged the industry while in office. He accused Ruto of shifting blame for sectoral failures to him in other regions.

“Wewe Kasongo, nimeskia juzi, ukienda kwa Wajaluo, kuongea mambo ya kahawa. Kudanganya Wajaluo, ati mimi ndio niliharibu kahawa.

“Kasongo wewe, ndio uliharibu kahawa. Ukashikana na macartel, ukasambaratisha sector ya Kahawa. Ukashikana na macartel, ukaharibu kahawa yetu. Ile shillingi billioni saba, iliweza kusaidia wakulima wa kahawa, ukachukua, ukaiba,” he said.

Nasikia Kasongo (Ruto) akisema nimefukuza yeye kule mlimani. Amekuja pale na wabunge wale wasaliti wake. Wamepigiwa kelele wameambiwa wakwende. Sasa anasema mambo imekuwa ngumu mlimani ati atahamia hapa Mbooni na Makueni ati akuje kuongea na nini.

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