Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has declared his intention to launch a new political party this week, aiming to consolidate the Mt Kenya region’s powerful voting strength and mount a direct challenge to President William Ruto in the 2027 elections.
Speaking at a rally in Juja, Kiambu County, on Sunday, Gachagua pre-positioned the yet-to-be-named party as a unifying force for the region, accusing Ruto of sowing division to weaken its influence.
“This week, I will unveil our political party, and we will throw a huge party when doing so,” Gachagua told supporters, without revealing the party’s name or precise launch date.
The former DP, impeached in October 2024 on charges of corruption and ethnic incitement — claims he rejects as politically engineered — alleged that the President was orchestrating the creation of smaller parties to fracture Mt Kenya’s voter base, vowing: “You will not divide us.”
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He expressed confidence that the region’s residents would rally behind his party and its eventual presidential candidate, stating, “The people here know their party, and they will know their candidate.”
Gen Z
Continuing, he made a direct appeal to Kenya’s youth, urging Generation Z to register for national IDs and voter cards to oust Ruto.
“The Gen Z will save this country,” he said, tapping into widespread frustration over economic stagnation, high inflation, and controversial policies like the Social Health Authority.
He insisted his agenda aligns with public sentiment, and it’s not just an opposition for its own sake.
“Kenyans believe Ruto must go for the economy to recover and corruption to end,” he said.
As Gachagua prepares to formally launch his party in the coming weeks, the stage is set for a high-stakes showdown. For now, his message of unity and defiance is resonating in Mt Kenya, where many feel their loyalty to the President has gone unrewarded. Whether that translates into votes in 2027 remains an open question.
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