The rift between President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua appeared to widen further after Gachagua did not join his boss to a church function in Nyeri county yesterday.

Even though the president was in his deputy’s home region, he made no mention of Gachagua in his speech at the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) West Archdiocese in Nyeri town.

Instead, Gachagua was in the neighbouring Kirinyaga county, attending a different church service to commemorate 100 years of faith and evangelisation at Our Lady of Sorrows, Baricho Catholic Parish.

During the event, Ruto delivered a thinly veiled criticism of his deputy, calling on leaders to focus on development and avoid premature campaigning for 2027 elections.

Wrong direction

“There are leaders who are putting too much effort into 2027 politics. I want to tell you that you are taking the wrong direction. Work for the people first before thinking of re-election; the people who elected you will decide if they want to consider you again,” Ruto stated. “In any case, you don’t know what lies ahead; 2027 is far, and only God knows what will happen.”

Gachagua, who had been expected to accompany the president, remained in Kirinyaga. His absence was conspicuous, with the seat next to the president left vacant throughout the event.

In his speech in Kirinyaga, Gachagua avoided direct political commentary, only hinting that Mt Kenya residents are “wise enough” to understand the current national political landscape.

“They are watching and listening to what is being said by their leaders. It’s not that they don’t know, but time will tell,” he remarked without elaborating.

Those familiar with the DP’s thinking say that the second in command felt slighted over gathering of Mt Kenya MPs which declared Interior CS Kithure Kindiki as the leader of Mt Kenya.

It didn’t help that some of the MPs who endorsed Kindiki are Ruto’s strongest defenders.

Besides, the President has failed to reprimand Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah who has been hurling epithets against the DP even in the presence of Ruto.

In Kirinyaga, leaders allied to the deputy president took a more confrontational stance, demanding respect for Gachagua amid reports of a growing faction backing Kindiki.

Kirinyaga Woman Rep Njeri Maina called on her colleagues to honour the DP’s role. “We are watching, and we can hit back. Gachagua is the Deputy President, and we stand with him. The Mountain is strong under his leadership,” she declared.

Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa echoed her sentiments, asserting that Mount Kenya remains solidly behind Gachagua and warning against any attempts to challenge his authority.

He claimed plans were underway to impeach Gachagua and later subject him to court trials based on fabricated charges. He cautioned that such threats from individuals close to the president would not shake the region’s support for the DP.

“Gachagua is our kingpin, and not even Kimani Ichung’wah, the majority leader, will change that,” Thang’wa asserted, also warning Kindiki that the same forces promoting him now could later abandon him as they had done with Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro. “The group that was promoting Nyoro has now shifted its allegiance to Kindiki. CS, be warned—they will do the same to you.”

Political rhetoric

The heated political rhetoric was punctuated by claims from Gachagua’s allies that the recent meeting in Nyahururu, attended by over 48 MPs, was State-sponsored, with lawmakers allegedly paid to criticise the DP.

Thang’wa argued that the gathering was orchestrated to undermine Gachagua and strengthen an alternative political power base in the Mt Kenya region.

In contrast, the Nyahururu MPs, who are seen as aligning with President Ruto, emphasized the need for the region to unite with the rest of the country. Their joint statement highlighted the importance of national unity, subtly distancing themselves from Gachagua’s calls for regional consolidation. They also criticised the lack of adequate political leadership in addressing the region’s development needs.

“Our efforts to consolidate the developmental needs of the people we represent have been frustrated by the absence of a focal point around which we can channel their interests to the government for implementation,” the lawmakers stated.