By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, May 14, 2026 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday made one of his strongest political attacks yet against President William Ruto, publicly asking Nyeri residents to forgive him for backing Ruto in the 2022 General Election while declaring that the Opposition would unite to remove him from power.
Speaking at Mwiyogo in Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County, during the burial of Annah Nyatoro Ndung’u, the mother of former Kieni MP and current EALA MP Kanini Kega, Gachagua admitted that supporting Ruto had been a mistake and urged residents not to repeat it.
“Please forgive me, my people of Nyeri, for presenting to you William Ruto during the 2022 General Election campaigns,” Gachagua said.
“Making a mistake is not bad, but repeating the mistake is bad.”
The former Deputy President used the funeral gathering to signal an intensified political push in the Mt Kenya region, announcing that he would spend the whole of next month in Nyeri after completing a tour of the United Kingdom.
He said Nyeri was facing a leadership crisis and promised to play a role in shaping the county’s political direction ahead of the next elections.
“We need to plan well for this gubernatorial seat because we have a big problem with devolution,” said Gachagua, who is also the party leader of Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).
“I have a responsibility to this county. We must get a worker, a person who will work for the people of Nyeri.”
In remarks likely to trigger fresh political tensions in the region, Gachagua turned his guns on leaders he said had betrayed the people by working with President Ruto.
“Most of the leaders I helped here in Nyeri are an embarrassment to the people. We are going to fix those problems,” he said.
He further singled out some elected leaders, saying political changes were necessary in the county.
“We must get away with MPs Njoroge Wainaina and Rahab Mukami and others. We must fix Nyeri,” he said.
Gachagua, however, defended Nyeri Members of County Assembly, saying they should not shoulder blame for failures within the county government.
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“I instructed the MCAs not to fight the governor and result in leadership chaos in Nyeri,” he said.
“Now that work is not being done at the grassroots, the MCAs are being blamed. Let them not be made to carry luggage that is not theirs.”
The funeral also turned into a show of Opposition unity as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi rallied behind a joint political front against President Ruto.
Sifuna argued that divisions within the Opposition would only strengthen the President’s chances in the next election.
“We are convinced that there is no other formula other than a united ticket against William Ruto,” said Sifuna.
“Whatever needs to be done, we must do it.”
“We cannot allow this person another chance to reclaim that seat because he will continue oppressing our people,” he added.
Muturi accused President Ruto of attempting to weaken Opposition ranks but insisted the coalition would remain intact.
“William Ruto’s plan is to make sure that the United Opposition group disintegrates,” Muturi said.
“But I assure you that this group will remain united.”
“Anyone among us who begins charting their own course independently is a traitor to the people and a traitor to the cause that Kenyans have adopted, which is to get rid of bad governance,” he added.
The burial ceremony was also attended by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi and other leaders allied to the Opposition.