Editor's Review
Gachagua said his native region will not trust anyone blindly, insisting on proper review and vetting before a political partnership with them.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has restated that the Mt Kenya region will not join 2027 pre-election deals blindly.
Referencing supposed betrayal by President William Ruto, Gachagua, who was speaking at the Ngemi Cia Watho second edition event in Murang'a County on Saturday night, November 7, told Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna that the region will no longer hand over its vote freely and that dialogue is the price of its support.
The Linda Mwananchi leader was among the leaders present at the event.
"Sifuna, here in the Mt Kenya region, we cast our votes haphazardly in the last election. We just handed them to Ruto; without thinking, without any prior discussion. This time around, securing the mountain's vote requires dialogue," he said.
Sifuna, who is eyeing the presidency in 2027, has been courting the region.
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Gachagua noted that his native region was yet to settle on who to support, adding that it was also seeking support to have their own presidential candidate.
"We will not be rushed into naming a candidate, certainly not. We intend to take our time and look carefully. We are also asking others to support us," Gachagua said.
Gachagua had earlier said that Mt Kenya would support Sifuna if he emerged as the opposition's joint candidate.
However, the foregoing would be dependent on whether Sifuna has the requisite numerical strength.
On Saturday, Gachagua explained why Mt Kenya is wary, in remarks that appeared to refer to Ruto.
He served as Ruto's deputy until his impeachment in October 2024.
"Someone came to us wearing a sheep's skin, but underneath, he was a leopard. He has caused us great distress as a community; he is destroying us," he said.
Gachagua accused Ruto of ruining the economy, costing people their jobs, and insulting the community by labelling it tribalist.
He said Mt Kenya would now vet anyone seeking its support and set out the qualities it would demand of a partner.
"We will exercise great care and conduct due diligence to ensure that the partners we choose are honest, possess integrity and honour, uphold moral standards, keep their promises, and are not malicious," he said.
The opposition is yet to settle on a joint presidential candidate.
Others eyeing the presidency from the faction besides Gachagua and Sifuna include Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-K's Eugene Wamalwa, PLP's Martha Karua and Fred Matiang'i of the Jubilee Party.
