Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of spending more than Ksh1 billion during his recent tour of the Mt Kenya region, claiming that the funds were used to mobilise crowds and organise political events.
Speaking in a televised media interview on Sunday, April 27, 2025, Gachagua Gachagua compared Ruto’s tour to his own meetings in the region, alleging that attendees at Ruto’s rallies in Meru and surrounding areas were paid to show up.
He emphasised that despite not having financial incentives, he still managed to attract significant crowds.
“Recently, they came to Meru, weren’t people being paid to attend those meetings? Today I’m in Nyandarua, my meeting has no buses, no one has been paid, yet people have filled this place,” Gachagua stated.
He further accused Ruto’s allies of coaching attendees on how to welcome him, noting that videos circulated online showed individuals being trained ahead of his visit.
“The President, as he toured around Mt Kenya, spent over Ksh1 billion. You even saw online in Meru how people were being coached on how to welcome him, because nowadays he only moves around with MPs — the citizens left him long ago. The people of this mountain don’t like betrayal or being deceived,” he remarked.
Political optics
Gachagua dismissed several projects that Ruto launched during his tour, labelling them as repackaged initiatives from previous administrations designed for political optics.
“The President went to Maua to launch a sewage project. That project was started by Mwai Kibaki in 2004. This is the third or fourth time the project has been launched. People of Maua just looked at him and wondered: Does the President think we are that foolish?” Gachagua stated.
He also claimed that Ruto inaugurated a power project in Imenti that had been initiated by former Governor Kiraitu Murungi nine years ago, and a block at Tharaka University that was merely repainted before the ceremonial opening.
“He went to Tharaka University — the university was already completed, he just found a block that had been repainted and launched it. Even the workers painting it were just looking at him and wondering: does he think we are that foolish?” he added.
Securing Mt Kenya votes
Referencing the 2022 general elections, Gachagua asserted that Ruto had no path to the presidency without the votes from Mt. Kenya and his assistance as a running mate.
“He (Ruto) had no other formula for becoming president. His only formula was Mt Kenya and Rigathi Gachagua. Without Mt Kenya, without Rigathi Gachagua helping him collect votes from the mountain, he would have lost,” he said.
“He needed the Mt Kenya vote. He needed a running mate who had influence, who had the ability to travel around, to collect votes. In Meru alone, I held 49 meetings to campaign for him — and because of that, he won,” he continued.
Fallout with Ruto
The Mathira-based politician accused Ruto of showing contempt for Mt. Kenya leaders and residents once he secured power.
“But after winning, he felt he no longer needed me. But he underestimated me. When I left, I left with the people. Today, he is realising the truth — that I didn’t leave anyone behind. The people of Mt Kenya are still with me,” Gachagua said.
He further claimed that Ruto used intimidation tactics and bribed MPs to support his impeachment motion in parliament.
“But then he wanted to intimidate me — he started buying off MPs here and there, thinking I would just give up and bow down to him, praise him endlessly. That’s the job of William Ruto — to have hatred towards our Mt Kenya community and leaders,” he stated.