Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi has strongly criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, warning him against continuously identifying himself with the Mt. Kenya region and perpetuating what he termed outdated tribal politics.

Speaking on Friday, March 28, 2025, during a National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) event in Kapseret, where he met students and locals, Sudi slammed Gachagua of trying to create divisions in the country by singling out the Mt Kenya region as a distinct political entity.

Sudi, who is a close ally of President William Ruto, did not mince his words, stating that Gachagua’s continuous emphasis on Mt. Kenya’s political identity was not only unnecessary but also dangerous for national unity.

He dismissed his earlier claims that Mt. Kenya belongs to him, asserting that his obsession with tribal politics was the primary reason they removed him from deputising President William Ruto.

“The person who was Ruto’s deputy before, that one we nicknamed ‘Wamunyoror,’ we sent him away because of tribalism. You became the Deputy President, and yet you are still going around saying, ‘I belong to this place.’ That Gachagua was going around gathering Kikuyus and declaring that they are Mt Kenya’s people and they belong to us. Let me tell you something—if there are people in this country who are not tribal, it is the Kikuyus. If you go anywhere in Kenya, you will find them. And then that fool stands up and says, ‘We are the people of Mt Kenya.’ Get out of here! He has the brain of a chicken!” Sudi declared to an amused yet attentive audience.

The Kapseret legislator further lambasted Gachagua for suggesting that Kenya Kwanza’s government should prioritise Mt Kenya’s interests above all else. According to Sudi, leadership should be about serving the entire country and not advancing the needs of a particular ethnic group.

“He has been given the position of Deputy President, and yet he stands before people and tells them, ‘Mt Kenya this, Mt Kenya that.’ What nonsense is that? We must agree to unite as a country. If you disagree, that is your problem, but we do not want tribalism. In fact, if you are upset about it, you can as well leave Kenya altogether,” he added, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Mt Kenya voters

Sudi was particularly displeased with the notion that non-Mt Kenya leaders should seek permission before engaging with people from the region.

He asserted that Kenya Kwanza’s leadership would continue to work in all corners of the country without discrimination, reminding Gachagua that Mt Kenya voters played a significant role in electing the government.

“We, as Kenya Kwanza, will travel across this entire country and work in every region. That person—Gachagua—who was saying, ‘Oh, do not come to Mt Kenya, oh, Mt Kenya this and that,’ let me issue a warning while I stand here today. If there are people who truly contributed to this government, if there are people who own this government through their votes, then it is the people of Mt. Kenya. And let me be very clear—we are not asking for permission to go to Mt. Kenya. We will go there, and we will work for the people!” Sudi asserted passionately. “

He went on to remind Gachagua that Mt. Kenya residents had sacrificed greatly to wake up early and vote in large numbers during the last election, arguing that it was dishonest to now suggest that other leaders should stay away from the region.

“Let them be served well for the remaining two years before we meet again at the ballot in 2027. We shall meet in the elections. Even if you say you will be voted for by one tribe, who in the rest of Kenya will vote for you? Do not come and say, ‘Oh, we will not go to Mt. Kenya,’ when those are the very people who sacrificed and woke up early to vote. You, Wamunyoror, leave that nonsense alone. You will soon understand who we are,” he warned.

Jab at Natembeya

In a surprising turn, Sudi also used the moment to take a swipe at Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, calling him out for prioritising ethnic rhetoric over service delivery.

He lamented that Natembeya spends most of his time talking about tribal matters rather than working for the people who elected him.

“And there is another fool right here in Trans Nzoia, this governor of Trans Nzoia. From morning to evening, he is poisoning people’s minds, saying, ‘These are our people. These are our people.’ His only job is to move around the whole day talking nonsense instead of working for the people. He has not done a single thing for the residents,” Sudi remarked.

He urged the people of Kapseret to reject divisive politics and instead focus on education and economic development.

“And that is why I want to tell the people of Kapseret, let us love one another, let us remain united, let us educate our children, and let us progress together,” he concluded.