Gachagua to Ruto: You won’t fool Mt Kenya again
By Mabonga Makhanu, July 1, 2025Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has hit out at President William Ruto, telling him that he will not succeed in fooling the Mount Kenya region for a second time.
Speaking during the burial of a Nyandarua MCA on July 1, Gachagua warned the president against attempting to use the same tactics he used in 2022 to turn Mt Kenya against their own leaders.
He recalled how Ruto persuaded the region to reject former President Uhuru Kenyatta by portraying him as an ineffective leader and urging residents not to follow him. Gachagua stated that such narratives will not work again, as the people of Mt Kenya have become more politically aware.
“Wewe ulikuwa unafikiria ati we are still foolish the way you cheated us; ulikuja ukatudanganya na bibilia, ukatuambia Uhuru Kenyatta ni mlevi, ukatuambia Uhuru ni mvivu hakuna kazi anafanya, ukatuambia tuchukie uhuru, tukakufwata. Sasa unafikiria unapanga fujo, alafu unatuma ichungwa bunge ati aseme ni Riggy ati ndio ii watu wachukie Rigy G. You think our people are stupid for a second time,” Gachagua stated.
He accused the president of now attempting to turn the region against him by blaming him for the recent wave of violence during protests. He dismissed the claim, saying that the people of Mt Kenya will not fall for what he termed recycled lies aimed at isolating him politically.
Gachagua also claimed that Ruto believed removing him from office would erase his political relevance.
Contribution to Ruto’s win
He reminded the president that it was his effort and influence in Mt Kenya that helped deliver the votes in 2022. He challenged Ruto to try and visit the region to gauge the reception he would get without his support.
“Ulikuwa unafikiria ati utanitisha mimi, ati umenitoa kwa kazi, ati nitakosa umarufu kwa hii jamii; mimi ndio nilikuleta hapa ukadanywa na Ichungwa, ati ulijilete si ujilete sasa,” Gachagua added.
He concluded by stating that just as he mobilised over four million votes to make Ruto president, he is prepared to rally over eight million votes to remove him from office in 2027.
“I mobilised 4 million people from this region to make you president. I will mobilise 8 million people from this region to send you home,” he concluded.