Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua
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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced his intention to provide new direction for the region in January 2025.
During an address at AIPCA Church in Kangari, Murang'a, Gachagua reflected on his previous support for President William Ruto, characterizing it as a "political miscalculation" that he would not repeat. Gachagua's criticism of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government centers on its alleged disconnect from citizens' economic challenges. Gachagua affirms that he disputed President Ruto's decision to award infrastructure contracts to the Adani Group, an Indian conglomerate, for projects including the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and power transmission lines.
Gachagua asserts that his opposition to these deals ultimately led to his impeachment, stating that his commitment to representing the interests of the Mount Kenya region and broader Kenyan populace came at a significant political cost. The former Deputy President has embarked on a series of consultations with various stakeholders from the Mount Kenya region, including traders, professionals, and political leaders. These discussions aim to formulate a new political strategy, with a formal announcement expected in January 2025.
The initiative has garnered support from numerous political figures, including several members of parliament and senators from the region. The political realignment appears to be taking concrete form, with Gachagua's allies revealing plans to establish a new political party ahead of the 2027 general election. This move is positioned as a response to perceived shortcomings in the current political arrangement within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Regional leaders have raised various concerns, including issues surrounding the Social Health Insurance Fund and proposed taxation of fundraising activities.
Public sentiment in the region appears to be shifting, as evidenced by recent incidents in Embu and Kirogo villages. During a notable incident at the burial of nominated MCA Mark Wainaina in Kirogo, residents reportedly expressed their dissatisfaction by interrupting a message from Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki, highlighting growing regional discontent.