Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has retreated to Nairobi as his former boss, President William Ruto, embarks on a five-day tour of his Mt Kenya stronghold.
The President arrived at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County on Monday, the same day Gachagua visited Wangige Market in Kiambu.
Insiders revealed that Gachagua plans to make aggressive public appearances in Nairobi, Kajiado and Machakos over the next five days while Ruto traverses the Mt Kenya region.
The former DP has kept his itinerary closely guarded to avoid alleged disruptions by critics and those monitoring his movements.
Since his ouster last year, Gachagua has become a vocal critic of the government, frequently making bold claims and vowing to ensure President Ruto serves only one term.
Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, an ally of Gachagua, stated on Tuesday that the former DP’s schedule over the next five days would be "active but well-guarded."
"The Deputy President will be holding numerous events, including impromptu tours in select regions," Gakuya told the Star.
Gachagua is expected to use the interactions to respond to some of President Ruto's claims and statements over the next five days.
It has emerged that Gachagua, who is preparing to launch his political party in May, has vacated his Wamunyoro residence and relocated to his Nairobi home to freely interact with supporters.
His decision is also aimed at avoiding confrontations with security agencies, who may seek to prevent him from addressing rallies in the region during Ruto’s tour.
With President Ruto stationed at Sagana State Lodge, security has been heightened across Mt Kenya, including roadblocks on key routes leading to the mini-State House.
Since Saturday, Gachagua has been crisscrossing Kajiado, Naivasha, and parts of Kiambu, criticising the government and urging Mt Kenya residents to scrutinize the President’s promises.
A heavy police presence was noted in Naivasha on the day Gachagua attended a church service with his allies.
On Monday, Gachagua made an unexpected visit to Wangige Market, just hours after alleging that security officers had attempted to block him from addressing roadside rallies in Kajiado and Naivasha.
On Monday night, President Ruto defended his six-month absence from Mt Kenya, insisting that he has a tangible scorecard for the region.
He dismissed claims that his popularity has declined due to his prolonged absence, arguing that his development record speaks for itself.
Speaking to journalists in a live TV interview ahead of his tour, Ruto said he would prove his critics wrong.
"It has taken me months to return here, but I have a scorecard on electricity, affordable housing, markets, and more. I will present these achievements starting tomorrow (Tuesday)," he said.
The
President denied avoiding Mt. Kenya due to perceived hostility, asserting his
commitment to delivering on his agenda for the region.
"I
will stay in Mt. Kenya until people start asking if I have no other region to
visit," Ruto declared.
