Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has stepped up his political criticism against President William Ruto, rejecting claims that his influence in the Mt Kenya region is weakening ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a rally in Makueni County on Monday, Gachagua dismissed recent remarks made by President Ruto, saying they do not reflect the real political situation on the ground.
He insisted that leaders allied to the President have been rejected by residents in Mt Kenya.
Gachagua claimed that during recent visits, some MPs aligned to Ruto were heckled and forced to leave meetings, arguing that this shows declining support for the President in the region.
“I hear Kasongo (Ruto) saying that I have driven him out of the mountain… they were heckled and told to leave,” he told supporters, using strong political language to criticize the Head of State.
The remarks highlight growing tension within the Kenya Kwanza political alliance, with Mt Kenya emerging as a key battleground ahead of the next election.
Gachagua, who now leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party, also claimed that President Ruto would struggle to gain even a small percentage of votes in the region if directly challenged.
In earlier remarks in Kirinyaga County, he accused the President of mismanaging the coffee sector and blamed him for economic challenges facing farmers. He further claimed that billions meant for coffee farmers were misused.
The ongoing political exchange between the two leaders comes as voter registration efforts increase across the country, with youth-led campaigns encouraging first-time voters to participate in the 2027 elections.
As political competition intensifies, Mt Kenya is expected to remain a critical region that could shape alliances, strategies, and the final outcome of the next General Election.
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Politics