Gachagua Alleges Ruto Plans to Replace Mt Kenya PSs with Raila Allies

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of betraying his allies in the Mount Kenya region to accommodate a power-sharing agreement with Raila Odinga.

In a recent interview, Gachagua alleged that Railademanded and received significant concessions, including key government positions, in exchange for supporting the current administration. Gachagua specifically points to a restructuring of Principal Secretary roles, claiming that Ruto plans to dismiss individuals from the Mount Kenya region, a traditional stronghold of his support, to make way for Raila's loyalists. He asserts that a prior agreement to allocate a specific number of PS positions to Mount Kenya representatives is now being unilaterally broken.

"For Raila to support the President, he demanded six cabinet positions just the way we had asked for eight positions in exchange for our votes because that is how a government operates," Gachagua discloses.

Gachagua also expresses disappointment with the perceived silence of Mount Kenya politicians aligned with President Ruto, suggesting that financial incentives or political favours have rendered them unwilling to challenge the alleged betrayal of their constituents' interests. He specifically calls out current Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for failing to intervene on behalf of those potentially facing dismissal. These allegations have emerged amidst heightened political tensions in Kenya, fueled by debates surrounding economic policies and the cost of living.

"On Friday, Raila and the President spent the whole day together with Felix Kosgey planning how to reshuffle the PSs. We had negotiated a total of 15 PSs in our agreement with at least one PS from each of the counties and two in Meru, Kiambu, Laikipia, and Nyeri counties," Gachagua reveals.

Meanwhile, Raila has dismissed calls for the removal of President William Ruto from office, advocating instead for a focus on collaborative solutions to Kenya's pressing issues. Speaking at the funeral of retired pilot Colonel James Nguyo Gitahi in Maanzoni, Machakos County, on Saturday, Raila emphasized that ousting an elected leader would not resolve the country's challenges and could potentially incite chaos. Raila questioned the logic of such a move, alluding to a hypothetical scenario where similar actions could lead to further instability, referencing the replacement of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua by Kithure Kindiki after a successful impeachment process.

Instead, Raila urged Kenyans to prioritize collaborative efforts to address critical issues such as the high cost of living. He mentioned that his recent cooperation agreement with President Ruto is aimed at fostering a conducive political environment for resolving these challenges. Raila also cautioned against continuous political campaigning, which he believes hinders governance and economic progress. He pointed out that the next general election in 2027 is still distant, and the immediate focus should be on addressing the problems faced by Kenyans.