Why ‘Village’ Slogan is Trending

The alleged rift between President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua has ignited intense political discussions and a battle for dominance in the Mt Kenya region.

At the centre of this controversy lies a statement by National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah during a parliamentary session where he seemingly directed remarks at the Deputy President, suggesting that one cannot build a kingdom if one still craves attention from one village. Ichung’wah’s remarks emphasize the need to focus on building a nation where the nation’s attention is sought, rather than merely seeking the attention of one’s local community.

This statement has sparked a wave of reactions, with politicians aligned with Gachagua attempting to leverage the “villager” remarks to propel him into political prominence, as the relationship between the President and Deputy President continues to deteriorate. In a desperate attempt to unite the Mt Kenya region under his leadership, Gachagua has embraced the “villager” label, with former Laikipia woman representative Cate Waruguru taking to social media on Friday, declaring, “I am a villager.” Her post featured a poster with images of women raising their fists, accompanied by the hashtag #villgersmovement.

Manyatta MP John Mukunji also expressed his pride in being a “proud villager” on the same platform, echoing the sentiments shared by many other social media users, which eventually spread to WhatsApp groups. This political manoeuvre aims to position Gachagua as a champion of the common people, resonating with the grassroots and rural communities of the Mt Kenya region. The “villager” narrative has become a rallying cry for those seeking to consolidate support behind Gachagua’s political ambitions.