Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has drawn parallels between President William Ruto's current political situation and the circumstances that confronted former President Daniel arap Moi in 1992, warning that the government is attempting to divide the Mt. Kenya region to secure re-election in 2027.
Speaking on Tuesday, December 9, during a burial service in Kakuzi-Mitumbiri, Gatanga Constituency, for Herbert Kariithi, the husband of Pelagiah Muthoni, a woman representative aspirant in Murang'a County, Gachagua claimed that he is the main obstacle preventing the government from splitting the vote-rich region.
The former Deputy President argued that President Ruto faces a similar political isolation to what Moi encountered three decades ago when seeking re-election.
"Ruto is cornered. From the mountain, from lower Eastern, Nairobi, Coast, he is cornered. He is where Moi found himself in 1992, he had been cornered," Gachagua stated.
He explained that Moi, facing rejection from Mt. Kenya region, employed a strategy of dividing the area's vote to secure victory in the 1992 elections.
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"But Moi was smart. He came to the Mt. Kenya region and made plans to divide the region. The region had rejected him just as they have rejected Ruto," the DCP leader said.
Gachagua provided a detailed breakdown of how Moi exploited divisions among opposition candidates to win the 1992 presidential election despite receiving fewer votes than the combined opposition.
"He picked Matiba, and he was able to get the Murang'a, Kiambu, Nairobi and Nakuru area votes. Kibaki vied and got Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Meru and Embu. Jaramogi got Nyanza region. Matiba got 1.4 million votes, Kibaki got 1 million, and Jaramogi got 900,000 votes. In total the three got 3.3 million votes. Moi got 1.9 votes and defeated all of them because they were divided," he explained.
According to Gachagua, the government is now attempting to replicate this strategy in Mt. Kenya region ahead of the 2027 elections.
"What is happening today, William Ruto and his people are saying the only way they can have a chance is to try and divide the Mt. Kenya region votes, because if they can't, there is no need to vie in 2027," he claimed.
The DCP leader positioned himself as the primary barrier to the government's alleged plans to fragment Mt. Kenya's voting bloc.
"The only thing standing between Ruto dividing the voters is Riggy G! That's why they are coming after me with all manner of attacks calling me a tribal man," Gachagua asserted.
He rejected accusations of tribalism, arguing that Kenya's real problems lie elsewhere.
"The problem with Kenya is not tribalism, but theft of public resources, misappropriation of public funds, violation of human rights, killing of Gen Zs, and selling of public assets," he stated.
This is not the first time Gachagua has accused President Ruto of attempting to divide the Mt. Kenya region. Speaking in Mbeere South on Saturday, October 11, 2025, he claimed the President was working to unite his own Kalenjin community while simultaneously sowing discord in the mountain region.
"Ruto is hatching a plan against us. He has called his people from the Tugen, Marakwet, and Kipsigis to unite," Gachagua stated at the time. "But here at our home, he is sending Kindiki and other leaders to sow divisions among us."
He urged Mt. Kenya residents to resist these alleged efforts.
"He knows that for him to remain in power, he has to divide the voters of Mt Kenya, but we are not fools; we have decided to put our votes in one basket. Let us not accept being divided by him and his people."
The former Deputy President also warned the region against politicians aligning with Ruto, urging residents to reject them at the ballot box.
