Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of using Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to divide the Mt Kenya region as political rivalry within the once united Kenya Kwanza camp continues to deepen.
In a statement shared on social media, Gachagua claimed the president was pushing a strategy aimed at splitting the region into eastern and western blocs ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Mr William Ruto, your schemes to divide the mountain into west and east is an exercise in futility. Using Soprano to divide the mountain is like using a razor blade to cut down a Mugumo tree,” he said.
The reference to “Soprano” is widely understood to be directed at Kindiki, who replaced Gachagua as deputy president following his dramatic exit from government.
Gachagua’s removal from office last year marked one of the most dramatic political fallouts within the Kenya Kwanza administration. Lawmakers allied to the president backed an impeachment motion against him, accusing him of misconduct and political insubordination.
Following his removal, Ruto nominated Kindiki, who had been serving as Interior Cabinet Secretary, to take over as deputy president, a move that reshaped political dynamics in the Mt Kenya region.
Since leaving government, Gachagua has launched an aggressive political campaign across the region, urging leaders and residents to rally behind the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which he has positioned as the new political vehicle for Mt Kenya.
The former deputy president has been holding rallies and consultative meetings across counties in the region, accusing the government of sidelining Mt Kenya despite the bloc delivering millions of votes to Ruto in the 2022 presidential election.
Kindiki, on the other hand, has remained a key ally of the president and has frequently accompanied him on development tours in counties such as Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi, areas considered politically significant in the contest for the region’s support.
The emerging rivalry between the two leaders has exposed deep divisions within Mt Kenya politics, with competing camps seeking to control the region’s political direction ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political observers say the battle between Gachagua and leaders aligned to the president reflects a wider struggle for the loyalty of the Mt Kenya voting bloc, which remains crucial in determining the outcome of presidential contests in Kenya.
