NYERI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has delivered a sharp political rebuke to President William Ruto, declaring that the Mt. Kenya region has severed ties with him and will not back his 2027 re-election bid.
Speaking during a Sunday evening interview with vernacular radio stations from his Wamunyoro home, Gachagua framed his announcement as an “interim report” on the region’s shifting political stance.
“We, the people of Central Kenya, have cut political ties with President Ruto from today,” he declared. “We will not support him in 2027.”
The former DP also announced Mt. Kenya’s withdrawal from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the ruling party that propelled Ruto to power in 2022.
He signaled an end to their political partnership, emphasizing the need for the region to chart its own political course.
“We are done with UDA,” Gachagua said emphatically. “Never again will we go to an election without our own political party. Last time, we attended the wedding in the groom’s car, but when we got to the river, he told us to alight and picked other people.”
Warning to Pro-Ruto Leaders
Gachagua also issued a stark warning to Mt. Kenya leaders still allied with Ruto, cautioning that their political survival was now at stake.
“This region will vote out all leaders who prioritize their own interests over the community,” he said. “Those who sell our people for personal gain will never see leadership again in Mt. Kenya.”
He further accused some leaders of ignoring what he termed as Ruto’s “disrespect” for the region, vowing that voters would hold them accountable at the ballot box.
“Our people already know who these individuals are. When the time comes, they will be dealt with accordingly.”
