Kimani Ngunjiri: Here is why I disagree with Gachagua

Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri has challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to expand his political outreach beyond Central Kenya, saying such a move would benefit him politically.

Responding to claims that he has abandoned Gachagua, Ngunjiri clarified that while they remain friends, he disapproves of the former DP’s political approach, particularly the narrative of "Mlima politics".

“It’s not that I’ve left Gachagua, but I disagree with some of his politics,” Ngunjiri said during an interview on Spice FM on April 23.

“When he says this party is for ‘Mlima,’. I don’t want to be part of that.”

Ngunjiri urged Gachagua to broaden his political base by visiting other regions, including Nyanza and the Rift Valley, to foster national appeal and avoid being perceived as a polarising figure.

“I talk to him, I call him, and I tell him—why can’t you go to other regions? People want to see you. Even if you’re stoned there, it’s better politically. It shows that some people oppose you, but when you’re rejected in your own backyard, that’s a bigger problem,” he said.

The former MP, who hails from Nakuru in the Rift Valley, emphasised the need for inclusive politics, especially in multi-ethnic regions like his own.

He said he avoids speaking only in Kikuyu during public meetings, choosing instead to communicate in multiple languages like Kisii and Kalenjin to promote unity.

“There are more Kikuyus outside Central Kenya. In Nakuru, I can't even spend an hour speaking just Kikuyu. I use many languages—I know many,” he said.

Ngunjiri also cited the trauma of the 2007/08 post-election violence, in which he lost 14 family members, as a key reason for his cautious approach to ethnic politics.

“When you tell me to focus on one language for years, it’s hard. I don’t want to be accused of inciting people—it could endanger my family,” he said.

Ngunjiri’s recent absence from Gachagua’s public events, including key appearances in Naivasha, has fueled speculation about a rift between the two, even as Gachagua ramps up efforts to consolidate Mt. Kenya support ahead of the 2027 elections.