National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s proposal for a political alliance between Mt Kenya, Ukambani and Western Kenya, warning that the region cannot win the 2027 General Election on its own.
Ichung’wah also criticised Gachagua’s remarks that he would relocate to the United States if President William Ruto secured re-election, accusing some political leaders of promoting hatred instead of building national unity.
Gachagua made the remarks on Sunday night during an interview with a local vernacular television station, where he outlined a possible three-region political alliance to challenge Ruto in 2027.
Under his proposed arrangement, Mt Kenya would rally behind him, Ukambani would be represented by Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka while Western Kenya would be led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
Gachagua argued that the combined voting strength of the three regions would be sufficient to defeat the President.
“Between I, Sifuna and Eugene Wamalwa and Kalonzo Musyoka; the election is done,” said Gachagua
However, speaking in Kiambaa Constituency, Kiambu County, on Monday, Ichung’wah, who is also the Kikuyu MP, dismissed the approach, saying political mobilisation should not be based on ethnic divisions.
“Now we are being sold hatred. I have heard some people saying, ‘When William Ruto is re-elected, I will go to the United States of America to stay there’,” he said.
“Thank God, you have a house in America. Where will our children from Kiambu who don’t have houses go to?”
“Let us not sell hatred. That hatred we are being sold won’t help us,” he added.
The Majority Leader maintained that Mt Kenya needed other communities to secure national political power, cautioning against the assumption that the region could independently determine the outcome of a presidential election.
“We must ask ourselves as a community. I know many will be pained and perceive me badly when I state this truth: We cannot turn by ourselves in this country alone. We need other Kenyans,” he said.
Ichung’wah cited voter registration figures in Kiambu to demonstrate why the region should not overestimate its political influence.
He said Kiambu had approximately 1.3 million registered voters, making it the leading county in Mt Kenya in terms of voter numbers and turnout.
However, he cautioned against treating all votes cast in the county as belonging to the Kikuyu community.
“Out of those 1.3 million votes, almost 400,000 are non-Kikuyu or non-Mt Kenya communities. That is the truth,” he said.
