Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has sharpened his political message ahead of the 2027 General Election, telling traders and residents of Githiga Market in Kiambu County that the era of “stolen sweat” is coming to an end, in remarks that framed the next election as a moment of national reckoning.
Speaking during a visit to the busy market, Gachagua thanked traders for what he described as their resilience and commitment to the country, portraying small-scale business owners as the backbone of Kenya’s economy and the biggest victims of failed leadership and broken promises.
“To the great people of Githiga Market, we say thank you for your resolve and commitment to our nation,” Gachagua said. “Your hard work and sweat will never again be stolen.”
His language, heavy with symbolism and grievance, positioned the former Deputy President as a defender of hustlers and ordinary workers, a constituency that played a decisive role in the 2022 election but has since expressed growing frustration over the high cost of living, taxes and sluggish business conditions.
Gachagua told the crowd that change was no longer a distant idea but an approaching reality, declaring that 2027 was “just a few days away” in political terms. “The year 2027 is here in the next few days to get back a better Kenya,” he said, a statement that drew applause from traders who paused their sales to listen.
At Githiga Market, a hub for fresh produce, cereals and small household goods, traders spoke quietly about shrinking profits, rising levies and dwindling customer spending. For many, Gachagua’s message resonated less as campaign rhetoric and more as an emotional acknowledgement of daily struggles.
“Your voice remains strong,” Gachagua told the crowd, urging them not to retreat into silence or political apathy. “Thank you.”
The visit comes amid heightened political activity in the Mount Kenya region, where leaders are already positioning themselves for 2027 and testing messages that could define the next election. Gachagua, whose relationship with the current administration has been marked by tension and public disagreements, has increasingly adopted a populist tone, casting himself as a champion of economic justice and regional interests.
Analysts note that markets like Githiga have become critical political stages, offering leaders a chance to speak directly to voters most affected by inflation and policy shifts. By focusing on “stolen sweat,” Gachagua tapped into a broader narrative of economic exploitation that has gained traction across the country.
As traders returned to their stalls and customers drifted back into the narrow aisles, the message lingered: 2027, though still two years away, has already entered Kenya’s political bloodstream, and voices from places like Githiga Market are being courted as symbols of the country’s unfinished promises.
