Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that the Mt Kenya region has fully paid President William Ruto’s political debt.

Speaking at Mbooni Constituency in Makueni County on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, where he attended a burial, Gachagua explained that Mt region is no longer indebted to the Head of State following their overwhelming support in the 2022 General Elections where he floored former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

He argued that the region was mulling paying the debt in instalments but following their messy divorce, the region had dropped the bid.

Ruto’s political debt accrued from his support for former President Uhuru Kenyatta who endorsed Raila in 2022 instead of his then deputy whom he had promised to back.

At the same time, Gachagua disclosed that the Mt Kenya region still owes Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka. He lauded Kalonzo recalling how he salvaged the late Mwai Kibaki who did not have enough lawmakers after winning the presidential election in 2007.

The former DP made it clear that the region is ready to return the favour to Kalonzo who is angling himself to succeed President Ruto in 2027.

“Pia tunakumbuka mwaka wa 2007, kiongozi wenu Kalonzo Musyoka alisaidia Mwai Kibaki akiwa na matatizo, ameshinda kura ya rais lakini hana wabunge wa kuendesha serikali. Kalonzo alikuja akamsaidia Mwai Kibaki. Hio serikali ya Kalonzo na Kibaki ndio ilifanya maendeleo ya kiuchumi hijaonekana Kenya tangu independence (We remember in 2007, your leader Kalonzo Musyoka helped Mwai Kibaki when he had won the presidential election but had few MPs to push the government agenda. Kalonzo agreed to help Kibaki. That Kibaki- Kalonzo administration brought about immense economic development in the country),” Gachagua stated.

“Na sisi tulisahau kulipa Kalonzo hio deni. Sisi ni watu ya kulipa madeni, tulikuwa na ya Ruto tumelipa, sisi hatuna deni yake sasa. Tulikuwa tunataka kumlipa na instalments, tumelipa first instalment ameleta madharau, tumesema hio deni imekwisha (We forgot to pay back Kalonzo’s debt but Mt Kenya region is known for honouring its debt obligations. We had Ruto’s debt but we cleared it, we owe him nothing. We wanted to pay in instalments but he has disdained us and we have said we don’t owe him),” he added.

Register as voters

At the same time, Gachagua challenged the Eastern region residents to register as voters. he argued that the only way they can make a meaningful change is through the ballot.

He thus asked the leaders to conduct civic education and advise their constituents to acquire voting rights ahead of the 2027 polls.

The former DP maintained that the only way the region could attract better suitors was by increasing their voting basket.

However, he did not authoritatively confirm that he would team up with Kalonzo Musyoka ahead of the 2027 polls.

Gachagua’s sentiments were shared by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa who vowed to return the favour to Kalonzo for directing Wiper lawmakers to reject Gachagua’s impeachment motion.

“Ndio maana sisi Kalonzo akikuja na vile ametembea kwetu Kiambu, tunawambia karibu… tunatembea wote tukubaliane maneno na tuende safari moja 2027 (That is why we are saying if Kalonzo come, we are ready to welcome him… we will walk together and agree on certain issues so that we can embark on the same journey in 2027),” Thang’wa stated.

“Wakati Ruto aliambia wabunge wake waangushe Ruto na Raila, Wiper ya Kalonzo Musyoka ilisimama na sisi (When Ruto and Raila instructed their MPs to vote in support of Gachagua’s impeachment, Kalonzo stood with us and opposed the motion),” he added.