I will not kneel before Gachagua, Ruto says

President Ruto attends a church service at Rubate Teachers College in Tharaka Nithi County, accompanied by DP Kithure Kindiki. [PCS]

President William Ruto has likened his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, to a slave trader, accusing him of attempting to dictate political choices to residents of the Mount Kenya region.

The President, who attended a church service at PCEA Rubate Teachers College in Chuka-Igambang’ombe, Tharaka Nithi County, dismissed Gachagua’s claims that he is the leader and custodian of Mount Kenya votes.

In sentiments echoed by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Ruto said he would not bow to attempts by Gachagua to intimidate him by claiming control over the region’s votes. “They are worse than slave traders and colonialists. They even want to dictate who speaks at funerals,” he said.

Ruto said he would not beg for Gachagua’s support as next year’s polls approach, adding that his development track record and agenda give him confidence of re-election. “They want me to kneel before them to get votes from Mount Kenya,” he said, adding, “I will only kneel before God and appeal directly to the voters. They will not succeed in the dictatorship they want to install in Kenya.”

He said Gachagua had failed in his duties while serving as second in command. “Every leader should be judged by their track record. That is how suitability for leadership is measured.”

He said his agenda was to unite all communities in Kenya. “I will make it my responsibility, mission and calling to unite all Kenyans,” he added.

President Ruto attends a church service at Rubate Teachers College in Tharaka Nithi County, accompanied by DP Kithure Kindiki. [PCS]

Ruto said that because of development projects initiated by his administration, he was confident of securing a second term. “I am sure we will pass with flying colours,” he said.

He said 70 per cent of Tharaka Nithi residents had registered for the Social Health Authority (SHA), the sixth-highest rate in the country.

He claimed that, unlike Gachagua, other political leaders from the region, including founding president Jomo Kenyatta, former presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, never declared themselves kingpins of the region.

He asked residents not to be intimidated by Gachagua as the polls approach. “President Ruto, assisted by ‘fireman’ (himself), will not be defeated by those people,” he said, assuring the President that the region fully backed his re-election.

“Someone should not declare himself kingpin of Mount Kenya. Kenyatta, Kibaki and Uhuru came from this region and delivered development, but they never declared themselves kingpins. The people recognised them as leaders,” Kindiki said.

On development, Ruto, who described Kindiki as the most suitable Deputy President compared with Gachagua, announced that his administration had allocated funds for the long-delayed construction of the Tharaka Nithi County Assembly, which he said would be completed within three months.

He said the government had subsidised fertiliser for farmers and dismantled cartels, resulting in improved earnings for farmers.

Later in Chuka town, Ruto defended his decision to appoint Kindiki as Deputy President, praising him as hardworking, humble and focused on delivering national projects. He criticised unnamed political opponents for belittling Kindiki, insisting performance, not political pride, would determine leadership success.

“He has a plan and works hard. Leadership is about service and delivery,” Ruto said.

The President maintained that future elections would be decided on development records rather than political influence, urging voters to assess candidates based on their vision and achievements.

During the visit, Ruto also handed over a Sh300 million modern market expected to benefit about 460 traders, saying economic transformation requires visionary leadership. He reiterated that Kenyans have the power to elect leaders based on policies and performance, adding that his administration would continue prioritising unity, infrastructure development and economic empowerment across the country.