Mt Kenya Leaders Accuse Gachagua of Undermining Regional Leaders

Mt Kenya leaders have accused Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua of undermining political leaders from the region while continuing to portray himself as a close ally of the same leaders.

The leaders, led by Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, made the accusations during a thanksgiving ceremony held in Machanga, Mbeere South, in honour of Embu County Executive Committee Member for Water, John Kago.

The leaders also mounted a strong defence of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki while calling for greater political unity and self-determination among communities in Mt Kenya East.

Ruku said the region would no longer tolerate a situation where its leaders are allegedly attacked, undermined or politically belittled while those responsible continue presenting themselves as friends and allies of the same leaders.

The CS argued that political leaders from Mt Kenya East should be allowed to determine their own political direction without external pressure or attempts to dictate who should lead the region.

Ruku pointed to a recent gathering of more than 30,000 elders from Mt Kenya East, saying the meeting demonstrated the region’s determination to make independent decisions about its political future.

He said the people of Mt Kenya East had already expressed their position and would not accept politicians dictating their preferred leaders or political direction.

The remarks come amid an increasingly visible political contest within the Mt Kenya region, with competing factions seeking to influence the region’s position ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Ruku further challenged politicians seeking to influence Mt Kenya East politics to respect the wishes of residents and allow the region to chart its own political course.

The leaders also defended Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who has increasingly become a central figure in political discussions surrounding Mt Kenya East. Their support comes after elders from the region recently endorsed Kindiki for President William Ruto’s 2027 running mate and backed his future presidential ambitions.

The developments point to growing political competition between leaders seeking to establish influence across the wider Mt Kenya region. Gachagua has continued to conduct public engagements and political tours in different parts of the region, while government-aligned leaders have intensified efforts to consolidate support for the current administration.

Ruku also dismissed the political influence of DCP leader Justin Muturi and Devolution Empowerment Party leader Lenny Kivuti in Embu, claiming that their current influence in the region was much lower than they portrayed.

The latest accusations are likely to add to the growing political contest within Mt Kenya as different leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

With political mobilisation gaining momentum, the question of who will speak for Mt Kenya—and whether the region will act as a united political bloc or pursue separate interests—remains a major issue in Kenya’s emerging 2027 political landscape.

The accusations against Gachagua, however, form part of an increasingly heated political debate, with rival camps presenting competing claims about who has the legitimacy and influence to determine the region’s political future.