The battle for Mt Kenya’s political dominance is intensifying as President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki move to weaken former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s influence ahead of the 2027 elections. In a calculated strategy, Ruto and Kindiki are engaging influential politicians and opinion shapers to realign the region’s politics in their favor.
A crucial meeting of the Kikuyu Council of Elders has been scheduled for February 28 at Two Rivers, bringing together elders from the Gema community and other ethnic groups. National chairman Wachira Kiago stated that the discussions will focus on national unity and peace, though political undercurrents are expected to shape the agenda.
“We want unity across the country. Kenya should remain peaceful, integrated, and free from divisive political rhetoric,” Kiago said.
Meanwhile, DP Kindiki has transformed his Karen residence into a nerve center for high-level political meetings, bringing together key figures from Mt Kenya. His efforts aim to neutralize Gachagua’s grip on the region by winning over influential leaders, religious figures, and grassroots mobilizers who can shift political loyalty.
Notably, former Jubilee Party leaders who once opposed Ruto’s UDA are now warming up to the administration, reportedly due to Kindiki’s behind-the-scenes negotiations. The strategy involves enticing these figures with new roles while assigning grassroots leaders tasks to gradually erode Gachagua’s political base.
Political analyst Charles Mwangi Ng’ang’a of JKUAT describes the Ruto-Kindiki plan as two-pronged:
“First, they are bringing back influential figures who had distanced themselves from Kenya Kwanza by offering them strategic positions. Secondly, they are strengthening their grassroots presence to shift loyalty away from Gachagua,” Ng’ang’a noted.
On his part, Gachagua is not backing down. The former DP has been forging new alliances with opposition leaders, including Wiper Party’s Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua, and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa. Through grassroots mobilization, he continues to champion the “one-man, one-vote, one-shilling” economic model, which resonates with many in Mt Kenya.
Speaking at a church service in Igembe North, Gachagua dismissed Kindiki’s political meetings, alleging that Mt Kenya leaders were being bribed to support Ruto’s administration.
As 2027 approaches, the power struggle in Mt Kenya is set to shape the country’s political landscape, with both camps intensifying their maneuvers to win over the region’s support.
