Gachagua Urges Mt Kenya Unity Ahead of 2027 Elections

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged the Mt Kenya region to unite under his leadership.

Speaking during a funeral service in Gatanga Constituency, Murang’a County, on Saturday, Mr Gachagua asked residents to support his bid to consolidate the region’s political strength through his new Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP). He said the party would serve as a platform to restore Mt Kenya’s influence in national politics and enable it to negotiate for power on its own terms.

“Our secret weapon is Gema plus Akamba,” he told mourners, referring to a planned revival of the historic coalition among the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru, and Akamba communities. “If we keep that unity, no political storm will shake us in 2027.”

Gachagua’s remarks highlighted his widening split with President Ruto, under whom he served before his impeachment in October 2024. He said he had no plans to reconcile with the president, dismissing claims that they had recently met for talks.

“It is not in my wildest dreams to seek reunion with President Ruto and his allies,” he said. “They remain my priority to defeat in 2027.”

His comments come amid growing political competition in Mt Kenya, where Ruto’s allies, the re-energised Jubilee Party led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and other emerging groups are battling for influence. Jubilee recently appointed former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i as its deputy leader and endorsed him as its presidential candidate for 2027, signalling a crowded race ahead.

The funeral, held for five family members who died in a road accident, turned tense when Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC) Board Chair Sam Waweru, representing State House, faced jeers after warning that critics of the government would be silenced. Gachagua intervened, criticising him for what he called arrogance and government neglect of Mt Kenya residents.

“You cannot come here to lecture us about a government that is humiliating our community,” Gachagua said, accusing the administration of abandoning farmers and presiding over an economic decline in the tea and coffee sectors. He cited losses of more than Sh60 billion following the closure of Sudan’s tea market, saying farmers had received no state assistance.

The event marked Mr Gachagua’s first public appearance since the death of opposition leader Raila Odinga on 15 October. His absence from Mr Odinga’s funeral had raised questions, but he told mourners his silence during the mourning period had been deliberate.

“I chose to be quiet for peace’s sake. I watched others dance, not because I could not, but because sometimes it is wise to be a witness,” he said.

Gachagua also accused President Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, of leading a campaign to discredit Mt Kenya leaders and demanded an apology for alleged remarks describing the region as having “dirty souls.”

“We voted for his boss in 2023,” he said. “But in 2027, we shall vote for someone else, and in even greater numbers.”

President Ruto received about 87 percent of the Mt Kenya vote in the 2022 election, a figure Mr Gachagua said he intends to significantly reduce. His goal, he said, is to ensure the region delivers “the lowest possible share” of votes to the current president in the next election.

Gachagua’s renewed campaign comes as Mt Kenya faces uncertainty over its political direction after the fallout within the ruling coalition. Once unified under the “hustler” movement, the region is now divided among rival factions seeking to redefine its role in national politics.

By reviving the Gema alliance and seeking cooperation with the Akamba community, Gachagua aims to rebuild the community-based political networks that once shaped Kenya’s elections. However, his confrontational stance toward the government could challenge efforts to broaden his alliances beyond the region.

Despite this, his message of unity, economic recovery, and regional empowerment continues to resonate among supporters who feel excluded from government priorities. Whether this will evolve into a unified political movement before 2027 remains to be seen, but Gachagua has made clear that he does not intend to retreat from the national stage.