Gachagua No One Term Chants

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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua made a passionate appeal for calm and respect during the memorial service of the late Ol Kalou MP David Njuguna Kiaraho in Nyandarua County.

Gachagua urged mourners not to heckle President William Ruto with political chants.

The service, held in Ol Kalou, was marked by visible tension as leaders from rival political camps gathered to pay tribute to the late legislator.

The charged atmosphere was evident when sections of the crowd broke into “One Term” chants as National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula acknowledged dignitaries present.

Taking to the podium ahead of the President’s address, Gachagua urged the crowd to maintain decorum, emphasising that the occasion was a solemn one meant to honour the life of the late MP rather than advance political agendas.

“There will be no confrontation here. This is a solemn occasion, and we come in peace—and I am sure, President, you have come in peace,” Gachagua said.

He implored residents to listen attentively to the Head of State and allow him to deliver his speech without interruption.

“He should be listened to and when he finishes, he should be allowed to go. I do not want to hear anything from you when the president starts to speak,” he added.

Gachagua stressed that despite political differences, the presidency must be respected, reminding the crowd that Ruto was democratically elected.

“William Ruto should be given his respect because he is the president. We loved you, we respected you, and we elected you. If we have a problem, we will deal with that in 2027,” he said.

He further cautioned against turning the memorial into a political battleground, reiterating that chants such as “One Term” were inappropriate in the setting.

“I do not want to hear ‘One Term’ here. That is something we will do out there. This is a respectful event,” he told the crowd.

The memorial service comes at a time of heightened political tension in the Mt. Kenya region following Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024, an event that triggered a deep split among leaders in the region. Since then, factions aligned to both Gachagua and President Ruto have been engaged in an intense struggle to consolidate grassroots support.

Kiaraho, who passed away on March 29, 2026, had been aligned with Ruto’s camp prior to his death

The event in Ol Kalou marked one of the few occasions where Gachagua and Ruto shared a podium in public since their political fallout, drawing significant public attention.

In the days leading up to the memorial, Gachagua had maintained that he would attend the service despite reports that some of the President’s allies were opposed to his presence.