Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has ignited a political storm in the Mt Kenya region after calling on residents to boycott musicians who recently visited Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. Gachagua accused the artists of betraying the community by aligning themselves with what he described as a rival political faction.
The controversy stems from a meeting held on Friday, where Deputy President Kindiki hosted several leading Mt Kenya musicians at his residence. The meeting, according to Kindiki, was aimed at addressing challenges facing the creative industry, particularly the influence of exploitative cartels and the need for greater protection of intellectual property rights.
“The creative industry is a multibillion shilling business,” Kindiki said. “Constant engagement with performing artists and all those in that space is imperative to find ways of supporting them through policy and protection.”
During the session, the musicians also praised the success of the government’s Social Health Insurance Fund, further signaling support for the current administration.
However, Gachagua, who has been positioning himself as the political kingpin of Mt Kenya, dismissed the visit as an act of betrayal. Speaking at a separate event, the former deputy president urged Mt Kenya residents to stop listening to the music of artists who attended the meeting, warning that clubs and venues should not book them for performances.
“Those who went to Ruto to ask for forgiveness if not, I’ll order no one to listen to their music and no clubs will invite them to perform,” said Gachagua.
He went further to lash out at one unnamed musician, accusing them of spreading falsehoods about him and his Democratic Congress Party (DCP). In a stinging rebuke, Gachagua mocked the artist’s educational background, questioning their qualifications to seek political office.
The remarks have sparked debate over the intersection of politics and the arts, and whether artists should be penalized for engaging with political leaders. As tensions within the Mt Kenya political landscape intensify, observers warn that such divisive rhetoric could further fracture the region’s unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
