Former Deputy President Rigath Gachagua has intensified his 2027 political campaign against President William Ruto in the South Rift region, urging the Kipsigis community to join him in sending Ruto home.
Speaking in Emurua Dikirr constituency in Narok County, Gachagua said that Ruto does not stand a chance of being re-elected due to his failure to deliver on key development promises he made to Kenyans.
He said the community risks being left behind in the next government if they fail to support the opposition in removing Ruto from power.
The impeached deputy president accused Ruto of isolating the Kipsigis, saying it was time for the community to chart a different political path away from the president.
He took issue with the way Ruto’s administration handled the death of former Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno, demanding that senior government officials, among them Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, should tell the people the circumstances surrounding the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Ng’eno and four others.
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Addressing residents at the Council of Elders grounds in Mogondo trading centre, Gachagua alleged that Ngeno's death could have been politically motivated, claiming the former legislator was being groomed to succeed President William Ruto as the political kingpin of the Kalenjin community.
Gachagua singled out Murkomen and other unnamed political figures whom he claimed were competing for influence within the community, saying they should explain what they knew about events preceding the crash.
“Those who were eyeing the Kalenjin kingpinship, like CS Kipchumba Murkomen, are suspects in the death of the late Ngeno,” Gachagua alleged.
He challenged Murkomen to explain who intervened to have a driver who delivered fuel to Eldoret Airstrip released, as well as what he knew about Kenya Airports Authority officials who were reportedly transferred shortly after the crash.
Gachagua demanded that the government release CCTV footage from Eldoret Airstrip covering the period between 2:29 pm and 3 pm, when the helicopter was allegedly fuelled before taking off.
He said the footage would help answer questions surrounding the aircraft's movements and the people who interacted with it before departure.
“Who bought the fuel brought in by the vehicle? Why was it bought from Lodwar and transported all the way to Eldoret? Why didn't Chesang board the ill-fated chopper? Why were the officers at Eldoret Airport transferred?” he asked.
Gachagua was referring to Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang, whom he said had been scheduled to travel with Ngeno but did not board the helicopter.
He also questioned the immediate transfer of aviation officials stationed at Eldoret Airport following the crash, demanding that the government disclose where they were posted.
Gachagua said he did not trust the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to conduct an impartial probe and called on President Ruto to invite investigators from Britain's Scotland Yard or the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“We are asking President Ruto, if your hands are clean in this matter, call for investigations from Scotland Yard or the FBI,” he said.
He added that if the President failed to order an independent investigation, he would pursue the matter if elected president in 2027.
“If Scotland Yard detectives are not available for the task, the government should seek the services of the American FBI because I don't trust the Kenya DCI,” he said.
Gachagua also criticised DCI Director Mohamed Amin, accusing the agency of what he termed “perennial cover-ups.”
“We demand investigations, but not by this Mohammed Amin of the Kenya DCI because of his perennial cover-up tendencies,” he said.
Gachagua, however, did not provide evidence to substantiate his claims that Ngeno was deliberately killed or link any individual to the crash.
“If I tell you Ngeno was killed, I am sure of what I am saying. It is very immoral to kill another human being,” he said.
Condolences and family support
Gachagua said his visit to Emurua Dikirr was not solely political, saying he had also come to console Ngeno's mother, whom he described as a close friend who had adopted him as a son.
He accused the government of abandoning the family after Ngeno's burial despite promises of assistance.
Gachagua pledged Sh1.8 million towards the hospital bill of Ngeno's brother, whom he said was receiving treatment in Eldoret and had been unable to raise the money required for his discharge.
Ngeno's past political remarks
During the meeting, Douglas Kamau Waweru played a video clip purportedly showing Ngeno speaking about political pressure and his decision to support Gachagua.
The clip, said to have been recorded during a meeting in Nandi, shows Ngeno expressing his determination to stand with Gachagua because the former Deputy President supported President Ruto ahead of the 2022 General Election.
“We followed all the other presidents and former prime ministers supported by Kalenjins and saw how he stood with Ruto ahead of the last election. We will never betray you as Kalenjins,” Ngeno is heard saying.
The authenticity and context of the clip could not be independently established.
The rally began with a welcome from the Kipsigis Council of Elders, whose chairman told Gachagua to feel at home and freely articulate his political agenda.
Council officials said Ngeno had planned to construct a house and a social hall at the elders' grounds before his death.
“Kindly build for us the social hall pledged by Ngeno and let the hall bear your name alongside that of the late MP,” the council's secretary told Gachagua.
Youth representatives James Kirui criticised what they described as years of neglect of Emurua Dikirr, arguing that residents had seen little development despite Ruto having served as Deputy President before becoming President.
Women leaders, led by Wilita Chemngane, raised concerns over alleged political tension during the campaign for the by-election to replace Ngeno, claiming that some youths had been arrested while others were injured.
They appealed to Gachagua to intervene and help ease political tensions in the constituency.
The leaders also criticised a parallel rally held by Gachagua's political opponents at Murkan and reportedly led by former by-election aspirant Arap Blue, describing the gathering as ill-intentioned.
Gachagua's claims regarding Ngeno's death remain allegations. Any determination on the cause of the crash, possible foul play or individual responsibility would require evidence from a formal investigation by the relevant authorities.