Deputy President Rigathi Gachagu has urged residents of Samburu County to support President William Ruto’s re-election bid in the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during a church service and fundraiser at St Francis Xavier Parish in Baragoi Town on Sunday, December 3, Gachagua appealed to the locals to ditch opposition leader Raila Odinga and join President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza side in the next general election.

The DP told the residents that the region stands to benefit immensely from the Kenya Kwanza administration.

He expressed confidence that President Ruto would clinch the presidency for a second and final term.

“Ikifika wakati wa kupanga maneno yenu msitupe kura yenu msituni. Weka kura yako mahali huongozi utapatikana. Sisi tumepiga hesabu ya kisiasa na William Ruto ndiye atakuwa hapo,” he stated.

“Hakuna haja ya kutupa kura yenu msituni na mtu ambaye tayari ako msituni. Huyo mtu huwezi omba yeye barabara wala maji. Ata yeye anakuja kwetu kulia.”

Loosely translated, “When the time comes to decide who to elect, don’t waste your votes on those in the wilderness. Vote for a leader you know has a better chance of clinching the seat. We have done our analysis and are confident that William Ruto will emerge victorious again”.

“There is no need to waste your votes on someone who is in the wilderness. You can’t tell such a person to build roads or improve access to water. He depends on the government, just like yourselves.”

Samburu is one of the counties in the country where Raila enjoys huge support.

During last year’s polls, the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition presidential candidate garnered 41,737 votes representing 59.33 per cent against President Ruto’s 28,329, representing 40.27 per cent of the total votes cast.

However, President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party scooped the governor, senator and woman representative seats in the hotly contested election.

During the Sunday mass, Gachagua affirmed that the government would continue working with all leaders in Samburu and other parts of the country to promote peaceful coexistence between and among communities.

Gachagua on banditry menace

Flanked by various elected leaders, the DP criticized the banditry menace in the county. The country’s second-in-command pledged government support to end the menace that has claimed the lives of dozens of civilians as well as security officers.

Sending a stern warning to the bandits, the DP urged locals to cooperate with security agencies to end the banditry menace.

“These cattle rustling activities are outdated cultural practices. We won’t allow the killing of innocent people,” Gachagua stated.

At the same time, Gachagua urged local administrators including chiefs and assistant chiefs to step up the war against illegal arms in the county.

The DP, while urging locals to surrender illegal firearms, warned the local chiefs of disciplinary action if cases of banditry are reported in their areas during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year festivities.

“Tukisikia mlio wa risasi kwa sub-location yako wewe chief utaenda nyumbani (If we hear gunshots in your sub-location, you as the area chief will go home),” Gachagua warned the administrators adding that he was speaking on behalf of President William Ruto.