Rigathi Gachagua The former President Of Kenya Says William Ruto Will Seek Mt Kenya’s Support in 2027

     By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya 

Rigathi Gachagua has confirmed that there is no issue between him and President William Ruto despite his recent political predicament

Gachagua said he will allow the president to serve with those he has currently entrusted with power, adding that the president is at liberty to seek support from Mt Kenya

His remarks suggested he won’t return to the courts to challenge his ouster and subsequent replacement

Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has said he does not hold any grudge against President William Ruto following his impeachment.

Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua said President William Ruto will be welcomed in Mt Kenya should he seek support in 2027. Photo: Rigathi Gachagua.

He said he wants to allow the president space to deliver on the mandate he sought from Kenyans before his return to seek support for his re-election in 2027, despite the current sentiment by a considerable section of Mt Kenya electorate who have indicated indifference against him (Ruto) following his former deputy’s impeachment.

Gachagua observed that it was prudent for those in power to be allowed to deliver, implying that he would forego the efforts to challenge his ouster and subsequent replacement in court.

“We don’t have any problem with anyone. We want to give him (Ruto) time to work so that he fulfils his promises in the two years remaining before he can come back to us again. So everyone should be allowed to do their work because we made many promises,” said Gachagua.

He spoke at a funeral ceremony in Kirinyaga on Saturday, stating that he took pride in his work for the two years he was in office.

In his tenure, the former deputy president majored in tackling the menace of alcohol and other substance abuse in Mt Kenya, where the youths were left deprived of their dignity.

Elsewhere, Gachagua was charged with overseeing coffee and tea reforms to rid the sector off cartels and guarantee returns for the farmers in the production regions.

He, however, decried a lack of support from institutions like parliament to actualise his plans.

For instance, Gachagua lamented that the Coffee Bill 2023 and the Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, stalled in the National Assembly Parliament for over a year without being enacted.

In his address at the Kirinyaga funeral, the former second-in-command urged the Members of Parliament to apply the same speed they used in his impeachment to pass the foregoing bills.

He also asked his predecessor, Kithure Kindiki, to ensure that the fight against illicit alcohol in Mt Kenya continues.

Gachagua seemed concerned that his two-year efforts to tackle alcohol and substance abuse in the region could be jeopardised with his exit from power.