Former DP and DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua addressing the public in Naromoru. Photos/Courtesy
The former Second-in-Command said the Operation Fagia moment will ensure that all those who are supporting the curent administration are never elected to any position in the mountain region
By Charles Kinyua
Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday unveiled what he termed “Operation Fagia”, a political campaign aimed at unseating leaders allied to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) across the Mt Kenya region, while receiving renewed calls from his supporters to contest the presidency in the 2027 General Election.
Addressing large political rallies in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, and Naromoru in Nyeri County, Gachagua declared that the region should reject leaders whom he accused of abandoning the interests of wananchi in favour of serving President William Ruto’s administration.
Flanked by DCP Secretary General-designate John Methu and a host of elected and aspiring leaders, Gachagua urged residents to register as voters, participate in the 2027 elections and remain vigilant in protecting their votes until the final declaration of results.
The rallies marked one of the party’s most aggressive political offensives since its launch, with leaders openly identifying MPs, senators and other elected representatives they want voted out in the next elections.
In Nanyuki, Gachagua trained his guns on Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri, accusing him of neglecting constituents while concentrating on personal business interests.
He alleged that Kiunjuri had focused on supplying electricity poles to Kenya Power under a government contract instead of addressing the needs of residents.
The DCP leader also criticised Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri and Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere, accusing them of blindly supporting President Ruto instead of representing wananchi.
He further faulted national government plans to establish an Ebola preparedness centre in Laikipia, arguing that neither the county nor the country had recorded any Ebola cases and questioning the project’s priority.
He further disclosed that his intervention on behind the scenes scheme on operations of British soldiers in Nanyuki had saved their base from being transferred to Tanzania.
Last month, Gachagua revealed how some government operatives were demanding billions of shillings so that the soldiers could have their operation license renewed but upon the revelations, the government eventually allowed them to continue ooerating from Nanyuki.
On Saturday, he said if the soldiers were transferred from the area, the town could have been significantly affected, more so, economically.
At the Naromoru rally, attention shifted to Nyeri County politics, where Gachagua and his allies declared that Senator Wahome Wamatinga, Woman Representative Rahab Mukami and Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina should all be replaced in the next General Election.
Throughout both meetings, speaker after speaker urged Gachagua to seek the presidency, insisting that he had the leadership qualities and public support needed to challenge President Ruto in 2027.
Nyeri gubernatorial aspirant Gichuki Mugambi told the former Deputy President to concentrate on seeking support in other regions because, in his view, Mt Kenya had already settled on him as its preferred presidential candidate.
Mugambi described Kieni Constituency as the economic engine of both Nyeri County and the wider Mt Kenya region, noting that its agriculture, livestock production and entrepreneurial population sustained thousands of livelihoods.
He argued that the constituency deserved greater investment in roads, water, healthcare, schools and value addition for agricultural produce.
“If Kieni thrives, Nyeri thrives and Mt Kenya thrives. It is time for Kieni to receive the investment worthy of an engine that powers the entire region,” Mugambi said.
Former KALRO chairman Dr Thuo Mathenge, who recently joined DCP after leaving The New Democrats (TND), also endorsed Gachagua’s presidential ambitions.
Mathenge appealed to former President Uhuru Kenyatta not to back any other presidential aspirant from the region but instead support Gachagua’s candidature.
He disclosed that previous efforts to reconcile Uhuru and Gachagua had not succeeded.
The meetings also highlighted growing competition for elective seats across Mt Kenya ahead of the 2027 polls.
Former Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru confirmed her bid for the Laikipia governorship, setting up an expected contest against Kiunjuri.
In Nyeri, the race to succeed Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who is serving his final constitutional term, is also gathering momentum with Mugambi, Mathenge and Kinyua Wanjohi among those who attended the rally and are positioning themselves for the seat.
Kahiga, who has declared interest in the Nyeri Senate seat, did not attend the rally, allowing former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando and businessman King’ori Wanjohi to dominate discussions on county politics.
Nyeri Deputy Governor David Kinanire, who is also eyeing the governorship, and Kenya’s High Commissioner to India Peter Munyiri were also absent.
DCP Secretary General-designate John Methu used the rallies to dismiss recent warnings by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen against attempts by members of the public to guard votes at polling stations.
Methu accused the Interior CS of interfering in electoral matters instead of focusing on deteriorating national security.
He challenged Murkomen over repeated threats to arrest Gachagua on allegations of associating with criminal gangs, saying such warnings were politically motivated.
In an apparent show of unity, nearly every leader who addressed the gatherings criticised Murkomen and dared him to act on his threats.
They instead encouraged voters to emulate residents of Ol Kalou during last month’s parliamentary by-election by remaining vigilant throughout the voting and tallying process to safeguard the integrity of the election.
The leaders claimed the by-election demonstrated that vigilant citizens could help deter electoral malpractice, although electoral management remains the constitutional mandate of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and security agencies are responsible for maintaining law and order.
Those accompanying Gachagua included EALA MP and former Kieni MP Kanini Kega who hit out at his predecessor for failing the constituents. He called on the electorate to support his bid so that he could finish projects that he initiated in the area.
Others present were Senators John Methu, Karungo wa Thang’wa and John Kinyua, MPs Wanjiku Muhia, Jane Kihara, James Gakuya, Onesmus Ngogoyo, James Munyoro, John Kaguchia, Edward Muriu, Geoffrey Wandeto, Mejja Donk, Kamande Mwafrika and Ol Kalou MP Sammy Kamau, DCP’s only elected Member of Parliament.
Numerous former leaders and aspirants also attended the meetings, underscoring DCP’s efforts to consolidate support across the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 elections.
Earlier in the day, Gachagua hosted a delegation of leaders from Murang’a County at his Wamunyoro residence, where they discussed political, economic and governance issues affecting the region before proceeding to the campaign meetings in Laikipia and Nyeri.
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