Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has scoffed at Rift Valley leaders, accusing them of elevating President William Ruto to almost divine status while sidelining the region’s pressing development needs.
Speaking on Monday, February 23, 2026, in Mulot, Bomet County, Gachagua argued that constant praise and public adulation for Ruto have become a distraction, diverting attention and resources away from projects that could uplift local communities.
“Wabunge wenu wote wamenunuliwa. Hawaongei. Senator haongei. Wajumbe hawaongei. Sasa Riggy G atakuwa mtetezi wa Kipsigis kwa sababu mmedhulumiwa,” he said.
In his charm offensive to counter Ruto in his turf, the Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) party leader has said the united opposition will address the pressing needs, urging the residents to vote out leaders who have neglected them in the 2027 general elections.
Gachagua and other opposition bigwigs stopped at Mulot on their way to the Gusii tour, where they are expected to hold rallies in Kisii and Nyamira counties to shore up political votes as they strategise on making Ruto a one-term president.
Since his ouster from the Kenya Kwanza government, the DCP boss has embarked on a political revenge plan to unseat the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leader, who is now courting the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to cement his reelection plan.
Moreover, he has ruled out mending fences with the president ahead of the next general election. Instead, he would seek the support of Kenyans across the country after consolidating his support in the Mt Kenya region.
“I will be going out to listen to the people of Kenya, as part of the public participation process, on the reforms they want in government when we (the opposition) take over power,” Gachagua said during a joint interview on Friday, February 20, 2026, with some radio stations which broadcast in the Kalenjin language.
“I am not sure I can work with UDA since our agenda as United Opposition is to kick President Ruto out of the State House through the ballot in the next general election.”
The DCP boss claimed that the residents of Rift Valley were warming up to DCP as a result of the win by the party’s candidate in last year’s Narok Town ward by-election.
Gachagua said DCP will conduct free and fair nominations for the various elective positions in the 2027 general election and that some of the leaders who departed his political corner in the Mount Kenya region either wanted direct tickets or were the President’s spies in the opposition.
At the same time, he said the economy needed to be fixed, and there should be policies to ensure the agriculture sector thrives, should the opposition take over. He also talked of free primary education and rolling out infrastructure projects.
“Business enterprises are collapsing due to over-taxation and a poor working environment. Some of the informal business structures have been demolished by the government, denying the people the right to carry out business and feed their families,” the former DP said.
“We are his key opponents and we can not work with him now as we want to take over power and carry out reforms in government to the benefit of the people.”
However, he said, the affordable housing levy, which he previously supported while in government, will be scrapped and the deductions reinstated in the payslips of the workers.
