Gachagua declares Ruto leader of Mt Kenya after fulfilling ‘tradition’
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced President William Ruto as the new leader of the Mt Kenya region after the latter fulfilled a "tradition" revealed by Gachagua.
Speaking at Sagana State Lodge on Sunday, August 6, 2023, Gachagua said that it takes exactly eight hours to crown the regional leader.
"I want to announce that you (Ruto) are now the confirmed leader of the Mt Kenya region in a traditional way. The way we receive a king," Gachgua said.
According to Gachagua, for Ruto to be crowned the leader, he had to cross the Chania River by road, and the journey should take exactly eight hours.
"That journey must take 8 hours, not more not less. The leader must come from Nairobi and cross river Chania by road. You crossed the river at 10:38 am and we received you here at 6:38 pm," Gachagua said.
Gachagua said in order to fulfil the tradition, they had to derail Ruto's schedule to make sure he arrived at the exact appointed time.
"We had a lot of back and forth with your people, you didn't know what we were doing. If things were moving slowly we would haste and if things were moving fast we would slow down," he added.
In May, former President Uhuru Kenyatta's first cousin Captain (Rtd) Kung'u Muigai said that the former President was no longer the Mt Kenya leader, asking him to retire from active politics.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta has exhausted his leadership options and he is no longer the Kingpin of Mount Kenya region, he should retire from active politics and support others,” Kung'u said.
