Let us heed Gachagua’s call to unite the Mount Kenya region

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• Dr Ruto had made the right choice. Come Election Day, he got majority of votes from this region and this would be attributed this to Gachagua’s efforts.
• Without this support, many believed Ruto could not have won in the first round. This means he was poised to once again face his main competitor-Raila Odinga of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition-in a runoff.
• Fast forward to the post-election, Gachagua would immediately re-engineer himself soon after being sworn in. His change of tack would come as a big shock to those who thought that he would become a ‘yes-man’ or ‘sycophant’.

In the countdown to 2022 General Elections, majority of Dr William Ruto’s allies in Mount Kenya region wanted to him to pick Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki as his running mate instead of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua.

As an observer, I believed this was informed by two reasons. First, it was out of fear that Gachagua would use his new position to overshadow them politically and fought his way to become the kingpin of the Mountain.

Secondly, some seemed to believe that he was a weak leader and would end up being a ‘yes man’ and ‘sycophant’.

This did not come to pass as Dr Ruto, the UDA presidential candidate, opted to stick with him. Before arriving at this decision, it seemed that Ruto and members of his inner circle had subjected each to thorough scrutiny including doing SWOT analysis.

For Gachagua, he was a well-schooled politician. He was also courageous and gifted with oratory skills to speak fluent Kikuyu language. Besides, he knew when to strike and at times play it rough.

He not only used these skills to rebuttal the allegations leveled against Dr Ruto and sell his manifesto but he even took the battle to the doorstep of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

His strategy resonated very well with the locals. Also, Gachagua had deep pockets.

Dr Ruto had made the right choice. Come Election Day, he got majority of votes from this region and this would be attributed this to Gachagua’s efforts.

Without this support, many believed Ruto could not have won in the first round. This means he was poised to once again face his main competitor-Raila Odinga of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition-in a runoff.

Fast forward to the post-election, Gachagua would immediately re-engineer himself soon after being sworn in. His change of tack would come as a big shock to those who thought that he would become a ‘yes-man’ or ‘sycophant’.

The Deputy President’s cocktail of strategies was tailored to achieve two main goals; assert his authority as the second-in-command after Dr Ruto and initiate talks aimed at uniting the leaders of Mount Kenya region behind him.

Though he would not come openly, his message to the Mountain would be interpreted to mean that he believed the time for former president Uhuru Kenyatta as the region’s kingpin was over. So, a time has come to pick a new king pin and as the senior politician he is fit to lead them.

Well, for me, Gachagua is on the right course. His first priority is to unite the Mountain. As we know, United We Stand Divided We Fall. So, he is looking forward to ensure that Mount Kenya got rightfully share of the national cake.

The other day I heard former governor Mwangi Wa Iria hitting out at a senior leader from Nyeri. He sensationally claimed he had directed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to probe his wife and this resulted freezing of properties she owned in Nairobi. “I know this man who calls himself the son of Mau Mau is targeting me. I want to tell him that he cannot put me in his box. Let him know that I’m the kingpin of Kikuyu”.

I come from Muranga and I want to say this. Wa Iria’s comments were cheap, in bad faith and totally out of order. First, he did not have any facts and evidence to support his claims. EACC is an independent institution and it started investigating his bank accounts and properties he had acquired during his tenure as governor long before Gachagua became the DP.

Again, I have never heard the DP telling Wa Iria that he had no right to seek the position of the kikuyu kingpin. Therefore, it was wrong to engage DP in unprovoked attack.

Actions speak louder than words. So, Wa Iria should have come out and declare his interest. For Gachagua, he has come out and listening to him one thing is clear. He is not seeking the kingship for the sake of power and pride. His main interest is to unite the Mountain so that the people of this region can benefit from President Ruto’s administration.

Therefore, I know the majority concurs with me. He is the right person to lead our region.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a Writer and Political Commentator based in Nairobi