Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of desperately seeking opposition leader Raila Odinga’s support to salvage his re-election bid ahead of the 2027 elections. Rigathi Gachagua stated that Raila might not save Ruto from defeat in 2027. In a fiery interview with KTN News on Monday, February 24, Gachagua claimed Ruto’s alleged plans to remove Chief Justice Martha Koome would further alienate him from the Mt Kenya region, particularly Meru county, and weaken his political standing.* Gachagua criticised Ruto’s leadership, accusing him of ignoring advice and now turning to Raila, his former political foe for political survival. . He claimed the president’s alleged scheme to remove Koome would backfire, further damaging his relationship with the people of Meru and the larger Mt. Kenya region. “Mr President(William Ruto), you have hatched a scheme with your deputy to remove Koome as Chief Justice. If you succeed, and he can succeed because he was able to remove a deputy president who is elected by 7.2 million Kenyans, so the one for Chief Justice is even much easier. Once you do that, your relationship with the people of Meru is irreparably damaged.
And there is no need for you even to come to Meru because you get a very hostile reception,” he stated. Why is Ruto turning to Raila for help Gachagua painted a grim picture of Ruto’s current standing in the region, citing a recent incident where the president’s condolence message was rejected at a funeral in Embu. “As we speak, the situation in that Mt Kenya East is already very bad for him. The other day, he sent messages of condolence to a funeral in Embu. And the people said, we want to hear nothing about it. He has not been to Meru. Meru is worse than Embu for him. If he succeeds now in removing Martha Koome, the people of Meru will even be more wild. They will be more hostile,” he revealed. The former deputy president warned that Ruto’s alleged actions would only worsen his political fortunes, predicting a humiliating defeat in the 2027 elections unless Raila Odinga intervenes. However, Gachagua expressed doubts that even Raila’s support would guarantee him political survival. “I tried to advise you, you did not listen to me. Now you are struggling. You are begging Raila Odinga to save you, to hold your government together. You are going home unless Raila holds your hand. And even if he does, I don’t think he’ll help you,” Gachagua declared.
Why Gachagua is not happy with Ruto facing hostility Gachagua emphasized the importance of preserving the dignity of the presidency, warning that Ruto’s alleged actions were undermining the institution. Rigathi Gachagua stated that it’s not good that Ruto faces hostility in parts of Kenya. Photo: William Ruto. Source: Twitter He expressed concern that the president’s growing unpopularity in certain regions was eroding the respect traditionally accorded to the office. Gachagua also revealed his own aspirations for the presidency, stating that he would strive to uphold the dignity of the office if given the opportunity.
“You will have a reception that is very cold, that is very indifferent, and it’s not good. I know why I was saying that Why do I say that? The institution of the presidency is very important for this country. And it’s a symbol of national unity. And the president should be able to go everywhere in the country and get good reception,” he added. How will Ruto still loose with Raila’s support Nairobi senator and ODM secretary-general Edwin Sifuna recently dismissed reports of a potential coalition between ODM and Ruto’s UDA party ahead of the 2027 General Election. Sifuna asserted that even with ODM’s support, Ruto would lose the election due to his administration’s incompetence. He emphasized that ODM would only form alliances with like-minded, pro-people parties capable of effective governance.
by Didacus Malowa
