Ignore Gachagua when he comes to Meru, Ruto allies urge residents

A section of President William Ruto’s allies have urged Meru residents to ignore former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua when he camps in Meru for three days later this week.

As Mr Gachagua plans a tour that will take him and allies across Meru, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Geoffrey Ruku and Water CS Eric Mugaa, Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi, Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri), and Gabriel Kagombe (Gatundu South), urged the people not to support the opposition leaders as they had nothing to offer the Mt Kenya region people.

Mr Ruku has, in recent days, come together with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and other leaders as they try to checkmate Gachagua's forays in Meru and other parts of the vote-rich region.

Gachagua has also been in Meru several times in recent days and has been joined by former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi in their quest to dislodge President Ruto.

He has also won the support of Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya as he intensifies his bid to market his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).

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Gachagua had also urged the people not to re-elect Meru MPs who are supporting Ruto, saying they had betrayed the people who are not happy with the way the state of affairs in the country. 

Speaking at New Zion Church in Tigania East, Ruku told residents that the president's track record was good, with a lot of work being done to deliver development projects countrywide.

"The president and his deputy deserve another chance in 2027 because a lot of work is being done. Do not listen to the noise from the opposition because they are making a lot of noise here in the mountain," CS Ruku said, citing rural electrification, construction of markets, roads, and housing projects as some of President Ruto's record in the region.

The minister and the MPs who accompanied him took aim at Mr Gachagua over his utterances that targeted politicians from the region who have stuck with President Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

"Those calling themselves cousins have no direction. After insulting all MPs from this region, we cannot allow such leaders to sail through," Ruku warned.

Mr Aburi, the host, asked residents of Tigania East to shun Mr Gachagua’s rallies scheduled for next weekend.

Mr Rindikiri, who is chairman of the 11-member Meru Parliamentary Group, said, "No number of sweet words would make me abandon President Ruto's camp."