Ndia MP George Kariuki has come out to explain why it is difficult to counter former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in the Mt Kenya region.

While speaking during an interview on Herman Manyora’s podcast on Friday, May 30, 2026, the Roads and Infrastructure Committee chairperson explained that Gachagua has been exciting the masses in the Mt Kenya region through his use of the Kikuyu native language in his addresses, something that has put him ahead of his competitors.

While citing former South African President Nelson Mandela’s famous saying that when you speak to a man in a foreign language, you speak to his head, but when you speak to him in his native language, you speak to his heart, the Ndia MP said this is exactly what has been happening in the Mt Kenya region.

“You know, it was Nelson Mandela who said that when you speak to a man in a foreign language, it gets to his head, but when you speak to him in his native language, it gets to his heart.”

According to Kariuki, Gachagua’s choice of using Kikuyu whenever he speaks enables him to connect with the hearts of about 75 per cent of the people. Based on his assessment, he can persuade about 25 per cent of them every time he speaks, making him a difficult politician to defeat.

“The reason why Gachagua is able to excite the region is that he speaks to people in their mother tongue. When he is speaking to 75% of the population in their native language, the message resonates and gets to their hearts. That 75% then influences the remaining 25%, making it very difficult to counter such a person.”

How to counter Gachagua

He continued by saying that this has now become a challenge for leaders supporting President William Ruto, as they are being forced to organise Kikuyu-language forums and programmes to communicate directly with the people and try to neutralise Gachagua’s influence.

“Therefore, you need someone who can provide an alternative voice, someone who can speak to our people in their language. Somebody who can go to places like Kiririmbi and talk to the people in a language they understand. That is the only way we will be able to persuade them to support the government. If we do not do that, then politics of hatred will continue to gain ground.”

MP Kariuki further stated that if they fail to do so, politics of hatred could gradually creep into the region, making it more difficult for them to secure victory in the 2027 General Election.

Kariuki praises Ruto

However, the Ndia MP, who is an ardent supporter of President Ruto, went on to shower praise on the head of state, describing him as a smart politician capable of turning the tide.

He argued that the president has undertaken significant development projects in the Mt Kenya region and will still be able to garner a sizeable number of votes from the vote-rich bloc, which remains a key battleground for anyone seeking the presidency.

This comes at a time when Gachagua’s political influence, according to many observers, appears to be growing rapidly, with many in the region seemingly willing to follow his guidance on the direction they should take in next year’s polls.