NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri challenged Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to ditch Mt. Kenya Politics narrative which he defined as narrow. Speaking during a radio interview, Ngunjiri asked him to instead take a national approach—starting with outreach beyond his Central Kenya base.
The move, he argued, would not only boost Gachagua’s credibility but also help him avoid becoming a polarising figure ahead of the 2027 general election.
Gachagua Friends Desert Him. #YNews
A Friendship, But With Boundaries
Let’s get one thing straight: Ngunjiri insists he hasn’t ditched Gachagua on a personal level. Politically? That’s another story.
“It’s not that I’ve left Gachagua,” Ngunjiri said, “but I disagree with some of his politics. When he says this party is for ‘Mlima,’ I don’t want to be part of that.”
The former MP believes Gachagua is limiting his political capital by focusing solely on Central Kenya, often referred to as “the mountain.” For any serious contender eyeing a national role, Ngunjiri suggests, tunnel vision won’t cut it.
Expand the Map—or Get Left Behind
In true straight-shooter fashion, Ngunjiri had this advice: get uncomfortable.
“Why can’t you go to other regions? Even if you’re stoned there, it’s better politically,” he said. “It shows that some people oppose you. But when you’re rejected in your own backyard, that’s a bigger problem.”
The former lawmaker from Nakuru—a melting pot of Kenya’s ethnic diversity—believes that Gachagua’s future lies in building a coalition across ethnic and regional lines.
And that means more outreach to counties like those in Nyanza or the Rift Valley, even if the reception isn’t warm.
Lessons From the Past
For Ngunjiri, this isn’t just strategy—it’s survival. “There are more Kikuyus outside Central Kenya,” he explained. “In Nakuru, I can’t even spend an hour speaking just Kikuyu. I use many languages—I know many.”
His absence from recent Gachagua events—including high-profile stops in Naivasha—has fueled talk of a political split, though Ngunjiri insists their communication remains intact.
Ngunjiri’s remarks come as Gachagua continues rallying Mt. Kenya leaders in a bid to cement his influence ahead of the next general election.
