Allies of President William Ruto in Mount Kenya have accused Deputy President Ligaty Gachagua of isolating central Kenya.
Leaders of the Kenya Kwanza Party, led by Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, claim Gachagua is plotting to isolate Mt Kenya communities from the rest of the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking in Eldoret, Kiunjuri alleged that the Democratic Party and some politicians were hatching a conspiracy to create rifts in the Kwanzaa Kenya government and weaken the president’s political influence in the region.
Meeting with members of the Kikuyu community in the North Rift region at a hotel in Kapseret, Uasin Gishu County, the leaders said they would not sit idly by as Gachagua seeks to pit the Mt Kenya community against the rest of the country.
Kiunjuri argued that the country was united through a broad-based government and that the central government should not be isolated.
“The people of Kenya Kwanza should not be bitter towards the President. Even if you are a shareholder, you should be calm knowing that your shares are being distributed fairly. I will be texting Ligaty to tell her that the people of Rift Valley Province want peace and do not want fighting in government. If women are married, they should be happy with their husbands,” he said.
Kiunjuri, who is the Service Party leader, vowed to ensure that Mount Kenya remains firmly in the ruling Kenya Kwanzaa Alliance.
“Internal conflict in Kwanzaa area of Kenya is of no use at all. While we are fighting, others are exploiting our differences. If husband and wife are fighting, there will be no stability in the home. If communities are constantly fighting, passers-by will come and steal from them, they will not know peace,” he said.
The leaders accused Gachagua of destabilising the government from within, rather than helping the president unite Kenyans across political divides.
“We will oppose any attempt by the Democratic Party to isolate the Mt Kenya people from other Kenyans for their own political gain. Why should we expect division when the country is united through a broad-based government,” Kiunjuri said.
The meeting, organised by UDA-appointed MP Joseph Wainaina, was attended by MPs Duncan Mathenge (Nyeri Central), John Kiarie (Dagoretti), James Gitua (Kabete) and John Kilaghu (Limuru).
Kiunjuri said they would choose a leader from Gema to promote unity.
He revealed that the meeting in Eldoret was just one of the forums he has been holding across the country to preach peace and repair political damage to Mt Kenya communities who have settled and done business in other counties.
“The DP should not base its political activities in Mt Kenya because our community members live across the country’s 47 counties. Gachagua should instead focus on helping the President fulfil the promises he made to Kenyans before the elections,” Kiunjuri said.
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Dagoretti reiterated the determination of Mount Kenya leaders to support President Ruto’s reform agenda to ensure that all regions can enjoy the fruits of the Kenya Kwanzaa administration.
“Let us support a broad-based government so that we are not shut out as a community. We must unite with other Kenyans because we cannot be isolated. We cannot act as if we are in isolation. We need other people and President Ruto is a great leader so we will continue to support him. All we need is time,” he said.
Wainaina argued that Gachagua was endangering his political career by defending only one region’s interests.
“It’s painful to see a Democrat defending the interests of one region when he’s in public office and he should be helping the president to ensure that all regions of the country get their share of the national interests,” he said.
The nominated MP called on Mt Kenya communities to co-exist peacefully with other communities.
“Though we have a large number from Mt Kenya region, our people are spread across all the counties and we are a minority in these counties. What will happen if we isolate ourselves instead of embracing other communities?” Wainana questioned.
