Riggy G firms up team to lock out Ruto from Mt Kenya bloc

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has begun assembling a team as he readies himself for a political face-off with his former boss, President William Ruto.

Businessmen, MCAs and MPs and 2027 aspirants have been trooping to Gachagua’s Wamunyoro residence in Nyandarua county since the festive season to plan their way forward.

Elected leaders – popularly referred to as “sauti ya mwananchi” for opposing his impeachment - are some of the members of the inner sanctum.

A section of MPs, MCAs and former elected leaders regularly deliberate on how to execute Gachagua’s strategy.

Part of the plan is to tame political leaders, especially from Mount Kenya who spearheaded his removal from office.

This move is seen as a strategy to consolidate his influence in the region by replacing dissenting voices with loyalists.

It is understood the central aim is to position candidates against MPs who voted in favour of the former DP’s impeachment.

Gachagua, who was impeached in October, has declared he has a political game plan which he announced he would unleash this month.

Ahead of the much-awaited announcement, the former DP says he is working with the politicos for a way forward for 2025, and eventually 2027.

The faces are not only from his backyard but also from other regions he is building alliances with.

It is understood that the former DP seeks to uproot any element of United Democratic Alliance in the vote-rich region.

The grand plan is to have persons allied to him hold all elective seats from governor to MCA in areas where his side would be popular.

Among notable names that have visited Gachagua’s Wamunyoro residence is former Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka.

Munyaka lost the seat to Caleb Mutiso, a former member of the Machakos county assembly who ran on Maendeleo Chap Chap ticket.

The former DP has also hosted delegations of Gen Zs preparing to vie for various seats, especially in Mt Kenya.

A section of the politicians who have been at the meetings concede they are about planning for the next general elections, and mentorships.

Mercy Nungari, who is angling to challenge Kiambu Woman Representative Ann Wamuratha told the Star that indeed she has aspirations for the seat.

She acknowledged her recent meeting with Gachagua, stating that it focused on addressing national issues and challenges affecting Mount Kenya residents.

“Gachagua is the most senior leader in Mount Kenya and is well-versed with the challenges our people face. His impeachment has united the region against Ruto, and Mount Kenya is fully behind him,” Nungari said.

Nyandarua Woman Rep aspirant Sasha Ngima Wamae, who has also been to Wamunyoro, echoed Nungari’s sentiments.

She lauded the former deputy president as a mentor and senior leader in the region.

“My discussions with him (Gachagua) revolved around empowering the people of Nyandarua and Mount Kenya. It was about aligning with leaders who share a vision for prosperity,” she said.

For Ruto allies however, the former deputy president is free to conduct his political activities but should be ignored for now.

Kenya Kwanza loyalists say it was time to concentrate more on their mandate as Gachagua has no promise to Kenyans that he has to keep.

“Elected leaders have a mandate. If we don’t focus on our main purpose and promise to Kenyans, and make him our focus, we will not work. We have chosen to ignore him, albeit not completely,” Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri said.

He said the activities are the least of their worries, adding that they have discerned their aim is to distract the government.

Kiunjuri said the activities of the former Deputy President were an act of a desperate person. “He is the last thing that I think about, the last thing that I worry about.

He is politically inexperienced. His background doesn’t allow him to have the experience,” the MP said.

In what could tell of the extent to which the former DP’s plot runs, he on January 8 hosted a delegation of elders from Kajiado West.

He said the session was for revisiting ties with the Maa community.

Gachagua in a note about the meetings said he intends to incorporate the suggestions and some of the figures in his plans for 2025.

“These consultations are helping us crystallize our thoughts on how to proceed, and we are grateful to all those making their way to Wamunyoro to meet with us,” he said.

For Kiunjuri, a lead convener of the Mt Kenya caucus, the moves by Gachagua are helping Kenya Kwanza to learn from its mistakes and take corrective steps.

“We have an opportunity to know the person much as he thinks he is destroying this government. We are taking advantage to learn,” the lawmaker said.

He exuded the confidence that Kenya Kwanza would have ample time for people to understand and filter the information they are being fed.

“I take pride in the fact that with time, people will understand. When he comes to my constituency, he is welcome. We shall also have an opportunity to address the same people,” Kiunjuri said.

He spoke at a time when names were touted to checkmate his troops of 48 MPs from Central who threw their weight behind Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

In Othaya constituency, Gachagua is reportedly backing Patrick Ngunjiri, also known as Wakili wa Mashinani, to challenge incumbent MP Wambugu Wainaina.

Similarly, in Nyandarua county, Sasha Wamae is being prepared to face off with Faith Gitau.

In Kasarani, Peter Wambugu (Pemwa) is being propped up to challenge Ronald Karauri, who clinched the seat as an independent in the 2022 elections.

Purity Gitonga is also being positioned to fight it out with Jane Kagiri in the Laikipia Woman Representative race when elections come.

Nungari, who is being positioned to face off with Wamuratha, sought the seat in 2022 but was unsuccessful.

Additionally, Wambui Nyutu, formerly of NCIC, is expected to contest the Murang’a Woman Rep seat against the incumbent Betty Maina.

Sources intimated to the Star that the DP is also targeting to take away notable figures that are still serving in the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Recent outbursts by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi on abductions and the sentiments by Peter Mbae have escalated the speculations.

The head of Delivery Unit resigned, citing frustrations of working with the Kenya Kwanza government.

The Ruto administration fought the assertions.