Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has lashed out at President William Ruto and KANU party leader Gideon Moi, accusing them of political hypocrisy and double standards following their recent meeting in Eldoret.
Addressing a rally in Embu County on Saturday, October 11, Gachagua criticized Ruto for allegedly engaging in divisive politics aimed at alienating the Mt Kenya region from the rest of the country. He expressed frustration over what he described as the President’s double standard when it comes to ethnic mobilization.
Gachagua lamented that while Ruto and Moi’s meeting—held on Friday, October 10—was praised as a call for unity among the Kalenjin community, similar efforts by Mt Kenya leaders were branded as tribalism.
“You saw yesterday, Ruto met Gideon Moi, who is from his native Kalenjin community, and he told the Kalenjins to unite. But when I try to mobilise you people to unite, I am labelled a tribalist,” Gachagua said.
“If Kalenjins meet, it is called unity. When Mt. Kenya people come together, it is labelled tribalism. He thinks we are fools.”
The Deputy President further accused several Mt Kenya leaders allied to Ruto, including Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, of being used to create divisions within the region.
“Anybody who is being used by the President to divide us is an enemy of the Mt. Kenya people. Waiguru, use common sense. Ruto is out there mobilising Kalenjins so that he can get back to power. I am also telling my people to unite,” he remarked.
Gachagua’s comments came a day after Moi’s KANU party agreed to join Kenya Kwanza under a broad-based administration. During the Kabarak meeting, Ruto welcomed the move, saying it was part of his efforts to unite Kenyans.
“Let us have a formal arrangement so that KANU becomes part of the government of Kenya,” Ruto said.
