On September 21, 2026, Rigathi Gachagua, leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), alleged that Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku had abandoned their strategy to divide the Mt Kenya region. This claim comes after local residents opposed their efforts. Gachagua made these allegations on social media platform X. He stated that government allies tasked with splitting the region retreated after the local populace firmly rejected their efforts.
Gachagua further accused the State of spending public funds over the last two years on a failed mission to fragment the region’s vote. He mentioned that the efforts to divide the mountain using stolen cash for the last two years have failed flat. The DCP leader's comments follow an elder-led unity gathering at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County. At the event, DP Kindiki met with elders representing the Kikuyu, Embu, and Meru communities.
During the gathering, DP Kindiki called on CS Ruku to hand over a symbolic axe, previously presented as an emblem representing division within Mt Kenya, back to the elders. After relinquishing the axe, elders handed Ruku a flywhisk, symbolizing a pivot toward peace, reconciliation, and national unity. Gachagua interpreted the exchange as an implicit surrender and a public admission of defeat.
Gachagua claimed that the assembled ‘elders,’ at a cost of Ksh.3,000 each, were given back a symbolic axe by the two agents of division as an admission of their frustrations and inability to divide a community that has lived together for centuries and shares common values, language, culture, and beliefs. He called on the elders to return the axe directly to its source, insisting that it belonged back with President William Ruto.
The DCP leader asserted that while previous attempts to split Mt Kenya into “East” and “West” zones had failed, the administration had shifted to new strategies targeting the former Central Province. Gachagua stated that this too will fail, as our people are too intelligent to fall for such innuendos. He alleged that the Ruto administration is pursuing a three-part political strategy: dividing the Mt Kenya vote, fracturing the Linda Mwananchi political movement, and sparking internal friction within the opposition coalition.
Gachagua stated that the first part of the strategy, dividing the Mt Kenya vote, has failed, and the other two shall fail miserably. He cautioned his political allies to remain vigilant against potential infiltration by state and security agents. The DCP leader's allegations come amid a recent unity gathering that aimed to promote peace and reconciliation among the communities in the Mt Kenya region.
The unity gathering and the exchange of the symbolic axe and flywhisk signify a positive step towards healing and unity in the region. However, Gachagua's claims of a failed government strategy and new plans to divide the region raise concerns about the potential for future conflicts and the government's approach to promoting national unity.
Key points
- Gachagua claims government efforts to divide Mt Kenya have failed.
- The administration allegedly spent public funds over two years on a failed mission to fragment the region’s vote.
- Gachagua warns of new efforts to divide the former Central Province.
