Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has lectured President William Ruto over what he termed a betrayal.
Speaking during the burial service of the late Ol Kalou MP David Njuguna Kiaraho, in Nyandarua Gachagua said President Ruto had betrayed the people of Mt. Kenya and that he has now been rejected by the community.
This is the first time the two faced each other publicly for the first time since their fallout in 2025.
The former DP went on to warn the Head of State against labeling him as tribal.
Gachagua Lectures Ruto Over Tribal Remarks and Betrayal
The Democracy for Citizens Party leader justified that Mt Kenya region is not tribal as it voted for Ruto despite him being a Kalenjin.
“I told you that Mt Kenya does not love betrayal which is not forgiven among our people. You chose to listen to Kimani Ichungw’a, now this community has rejected you,” he said.
“We gave you our votes but you were not called Njoroge or Kamau. Going forward, the President leaves the people of Mt Kenya. Don’t insult or abuse as tribal. Leave us in peace,” he added.
The former Deputy President stated that although he was removed from office, by President Ruto, he remains firmly in the hearts of the people of Mt Kenya.
He compared the task of removing him from their support to cutting a Mugumu tree with a razor blade.
Gachagua went on to ask Ruto to seek peace and friendship with the people of Mt Kenya ahead of the 2027 elections.
He further claimed that he had warned President Ruto against seeking advice from certain Members of Parliament, arguing that they gave him the wrong guidance of creating enemity with the Central region.
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Gachagua said he would work with the Head of State only if the latter stopped interacting with some of his political allies, who he claimed were misleading him.
During his speech, Gachagua strongly criticised the Majority Leader in the National Assembly, Kimani Inchung’wah, of allegedly fuelling violence in the Mt Kenya region.
In response, Ruto while adressing the mourners said that he will move around the country and will not ask anyone for permission to interact and make friendship with any region.
“We will not give space to any leader who wants to divide the people of Kenya along tribal lines. We are going to stand united as the people of Kenya,” he said.
