Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has drawn a firm line against what he describes as President William Ruto’s attempts to divide the Mt. Kenya political bloc. Speaking in Murang’a on Thursday, September 25, 2025, Gachagua stressed that the unity of the region must be safeguarded at all costs, warning that fragmentation would weaken its influence on the national stage.
Gachagua accused the President of employing divide-and-rule tactics to destabilize the united opposition, pointedly alluding to Ruto’s “wheelbarrow” political movement as a tool for planting loyalists within the community.
The remarks mark a sharp escalation in tensions between the two leaders, who were once seen as close allies. Mt. Kenya has long been a decisive force in Kenya’s politics, and the battle for its political voice is shaping up to be a key factor in future contests.
By positioning himself as the custodian of the region’s unity, Gachagua is cementing his role as a central player in national politics. His hardening stance signals a determination to resist any external attempts to weaken Mt. Kenya’s bargaining power, a move that could significantly influence the country’s political direction in the years ahead.
