Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during a past church function in Nyeri County.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and a host of his allies have told President William Ruto that he has no chance of being re-elected after ‘betraying’ the populous Mt Kenya region.
The leaders made the remarks after President Ruto toured Luo Nyanza on Tuesday and led residents in declaring that he would rule for 10 years.
Dr Ruto last week toured the opposition chief Mr Raila Odinga's political stronghold where he was promised a second term during roadside rallies.
"You have said how many years? Ten? You say how many? Sure?" he posed as the crowds shouted he would have his maximum 10 years ending 2032.
Last Sunday, while in Murang'a County, Mr Gachagua declared that "Mt Kenya will unite with other Kenyans in 2027 to make their stand known against President Ruto and his loyalists".
But according to Laikipia East MP Mr Mwangi Kiunjuri, Mt Kenya gave Dr Ruto 87 percent of its cast votes, and will not succeed in punishing the President.
"We drove ourselves to this corner by entrusting our plight to a crybaby who instead of helping the President serve our people, took his self-interests to blackmail the president,” he said.
Mr Kiunjuri said that "what Mt Kenya will withdraw from President Ruto in terms of votes, Mr Odinga will compensate by his support base. If Mt Kenya follows the route it is taking, it will only drive itself into isolation.”
On Tuesday, Mr Gachagua's right-hand man, Mr Ngunjiri Wambugu, during an interview with Kogi's Corner TV said "President Ruto cannot escape one-term presidency.
"It is not the nature of brethren and mourners to boo and jeer a head of state. It is happening. The youths are mad at your rule. There appears unanimity of thought that the president's rule is not what the country deserves," he said.
"President Ruto is spinning voting blocs like how a Disk Jockey does with music. He is full of back-to-back promises. He is like the village bull that seduces multiple women ending up being marked for rejection. He has jilted Gachagua, other women are very suspicious of him now," he said.
But Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku calls it bluff saying the Head of State is being fought by people bitter for falling out with the government.
“What we are asking ourselves is how we will win mega projects, improve lives for our people and capitalise on the power we gave this government," he said.
"Keeping on telling us that he (Dr Ruto) is a one-term president is not helping us these three years before the next election...what we need is development," Mr Ruku said.
Head of Presidential Communication Service Mr Munyori Buku had earlier told Nation.Africa that the President is not interested in re-election politics.
"President Ruto has never shifted anything to the second term. He has argued at public fora that you cannot spend the first term thinking about the second," Mr Buku said.
He added that the President is, for now, only interested in transformation in housing, universal healthcare, agriculture, digitisation and financial inclusion, among others.
"This is being implemented now. Only then can the second term take care of itself," he said.
The ruling United Democratic Alliance party chairperson Ms Cecily Mbarire insisted that the President will not be distracted by a few self-centered individuals out to incite Kenyans, especially from Mt Kenya against their government.
"Some of those making noise come from regions that are developed. Our people from Mt Kenya East have little development and their only hope is being in the good books of government," she said.
Senate Majority leader Mr Aaron Cheruiyot believes that President Ruto's rule is besieged by agents of misinformation, propaganda and outright malice.
He said even if the President failed to achieve any other thing, what will make him get endearments is uniting the country to give it stability and peace.
But Mr Ngunjiri feels that President Ruto has sabotaged himself to the point he is being viewed suspiciously by all political actors.
“We are pitching either Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper Party boss), Mr George Natembeya (DAP-Kenya), or Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-Kenya). Everyone else but Ruto," he said.
Mr Ngunjiri added that what is required is to keep the raging Mt Kenya emotions against President Ruto live until January 2026 when politics proper will erupt.
Murang'a Senator Mr Joe Nyutu, who of late has morphed into a Mr Gachagua firebrand, said Dr Ruto managed to sneak into the win because Uhuru Kenyatta made a blunder of not telling Kenyans what exactly was wrong with his deputy (Dr Ruto) to a point he was supporting Mr Odinga.
"This time we are different and Mr Gachagua is speaking out and revealing why President Ruto should be sent packing and backing it with evidence. That is our attack line. Kenyans must be presented with real reasons why President Ruto should be sent packing," he said.
