Gachagua, Karua unite to lock Mt Kenya region

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua paid a courtesy call on Martha Karua at her home in Kimunye Village, Gichugu Constituency in Kirinyaga County on January 25, 2025. [Courtesy, Standard] Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua have buried the political hatchet and vowed to work together ahead of the 2027 General Election. The move comes as the leaders, who are critical of President William Ruto's leadership, craft new ways to lock him out of key voting blocs. Karua also announced plans to unveil her rebranded party, which she says will liberate Kenyans from the claws of Kenya Kwanza misrule. The party will be registered next month and is one of the fronts she is hoping will turn the political tide against Ruto's UDA in the Mt Kenya region. Accompanied by the Kikuyu Council of Elders, Gachagua arrived at the rural home of Karua in Kimunye, Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, a few minutes past 11 am. With the guidance of the elders, Gachagua handed over a ram and ewe, a gesture practised when a leader visits another. He also handed over a second ram, known in Kikuyu as ngoima, which was later slaughtered. The two leaders also shared part of the mutton chest, signifying new beginnings of working together and fostering unity. READ: Former DP Gachagua meets Karua, applauds Gen Z for demanding better governance While addressing opinion leaders at the function, Gachagua said that his visit to Karua was the first step in solidifying the mountain's unity in readiness to work together with other leaders from other parts of the country. "Martha Karua is an iron leader, people thought that because we were in different camps in the last elections, we could not talk and come together, but as you can see we are now together and will forge a common agenda moving forward" he said. "I have always appreciated Karua as a good leader, even when we were competing, I always admired her leadership and always hoped we would be on one side," he added. The former Deputy President also hit out at President Ruto for referring to some Mt Kenya leaders as tribalists, saying that it was unfortunate that the president had turned into insulting the people who made him president. "The people of Mt Kenya are not tribalists; we supported William Ruto and made him President knowing too well he was not a Kikuyu. Through Martha Karua, we voted for Raila Odinga knowing too well he was not a Kikuyu. It is therefore very insulting for the President to call us tribalists," he said. On her part, Karua said that the newfound unity would create a formidable team that will negotiate with other communities on how to liberate the country from the current regime. Karua announced that she has since rebranded her Narc Kenya Party to the People's Liberation Party and will be building her brand ahead of the elections. "We have rebranded our party and will be launching it next month. I have heard that my brother might also be launching a party. They are welcome to join us, but if they will not, we are still together since we are all on the same page and moving towards one direction," she said. Karua reiterated that she will be vying for president in 2027 but would be open to joining hands with others and even supporting another person to achieve one goal of unseating President Ruto. She has also said that they would not allow President Ruto to graduate into a tyrant dictator, adding that they would also not allow Nairobi to be made the headquarters of kidnappings and abductions. ALSO READ: DP Gachagua, Karua and the growing unhappiness in Mount Kenya "We also want Members of Parliament to scrap the levies being charged on youths seeking to get identity cards. This is a scheme by this regime to lock out poor youths from registering as voters," she claimed. Karua said that Gachagua was always welcome to consult with her so that they can chart the same path, and called on the President to stop harassing his former deputy. She has also called on leaders, specifically former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga, to stop being used to disrupt peace in the region. "I want to ask my brother Maina Njenga, whom I represented in court last year, that supporting William Ruto is your right but don't allow yourself to be used to fight your brothers and sisters and disrupt peace. I hear you call yourself pastor, hold your prayer rallies in peace.''. Barely two years ago, the two leaders were fierce adversaries after they were selected as running mates for Ruto and Azimio candidate Raila Odinga in the build-up to the 2022 polls. Also present yesterday were MPs Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Jane Njeri Maina (Kirinyaga), Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri), Gathoni Wa Muchomba (Githunguri), MejjaDonk Benjamin Gathiru (Embakasi Central) and James Gakuya (Embakasi North) and Senator James Kamau Murango of Kirinyaga.

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