Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has publicly raised concerns over potential political divisions between him and President William Ruto, asserting his expectations that the country’s top leader will not betray the Mount Kenya community.
In a recently surfaced video, Gachagua can be heard offering a stern caution to President Ruto against the possibility of betraying the people of the Central region, especially in light of the robust support Ruto received in the 2022 general elections.
In the video, Gachagua, who appeared to be addressing a congregation in a church setting, emphasised the importance of trust and the aversion to betrayal within the Mount Kenya community.
He stated, “And since we are wise people, one thing we dislike is betrayal…If you betray us, we will hate you.”
DP Gachagua also seized the moment to reflect on the circumstances that led to Dr Ruto’s estrangement from the government that they had jointly participated in forming, which was the Jubilee government led by the now-retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
William Ruto served as Deputy President from 2013 to 2022, but his relationship with President Kenyatta became strained, particularly after the handshake between Kenyatta and the ODM leader, Raila Odinga, in 2018.
Gachagua emphasised that the Mount Kenya community had wholeheartedly supported Dr Ruto, even though he hails from a different region.
He stated, “William Ruto was betrayed. We voted for him, even though he is not from our region. We don’t like betrayal…We said this one that has been betrayed, this one you are tormenting, this one you are belittling. This is the one we will uplift to show you we don’t like betrayal.”
Gachagua added, “And we did that. And here we are, waiting for this day with President William Ruto (referring to the upcoming 2027 election) so that we can settle it. We have no problem, if we like someone, we like them, if we reject you, we have rejected you.”
It is worth noting that prior to his election as President in 2022, William Ruto had pledged not to subject his deputy to the challenges he faced during his tenure in the Jubilee government.
Gachagua’s statements appear to be influenced by speculations that President Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga may announce a reconciliation of their political differences, particularly in light of the forthcoming release of the report on dialogue between the Kenya Kwanza Government and Azimio la Umoja.
Both sides engaged in joint discussions, which solicited recommendations from various political parties, human rights organisations, and workers’ unions, and concluded recently.
Gachagua has consistently expressed his opposition to the idea of a handshake and remains resolute in his stance.
