DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has stepped up his campaign to consolidate political support in Mount Kenya, accusing Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku and leaders allied to President William Ruto of attempting to divide the region ahead of the August 2027 general election.

Speaking on the second day of his three-day tour of Meru County, the former Deputy President claimed Ruku was being used by President Ruto to undermine political unity in the region, as the battle for control of the vote-rich Mount Kenya bloc intensifies.

“Ruku is being used by William Ruto to divide the mountain. We are one people, under one political party and one leadership. We will not allow anyone to divide us,” Gachagua told supporters during his tour.

The former Deputy President has increasingly positioned his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) as the political vehicle through which he hopes to consolidate support in Mount Kenya following his fallout with President Ruto and subsequent removal from office.

His Meru tour has also focused on local concerns, including insecurity in parts of Igembe North Constituency.

Gachagua accused the government of failing to adequately protect residents from bandit attacks, which he said had led to deaths and left communities living in fear.

“Ruto has failed to protect the people of Igembe and they are being slaughtered like chicken. So far 140 people have been killed, more than 12,000 heads of cattle and over 500,000 goats and sheep have been stolen. We don’t have time for you Ruto,” said Gachagua.

He described the government's response to the insecurity as inadequate and insensitive, arguing that residents deserved stronger security interventions.

Gachagua pledged to strengthen security in the affected areas should he win the presidency, making insecurity one of the key issues in his pitch to Meru voters.

The DCP leader also turned his attention to the miraa sector, a major source of livelihood for thousands of farmers and traders in Meru County.

Gachagua promised to dismantle what he described as cartels controlling the sector and restore a more favourable trading environment for farmers if elected president.

“Ruto, you promised to uplift Miraa farmers but you have not kept your promise. When we take over government connected cronies will be forced to return the miraa business to the people of Meru,” the DCP leader added.

He did not, however, provide evidence to substantiate his claims against government officials or identify the individuals he accused of interfering with the miraa trade.

The former Deputy President also trained his sights on elected leaders from Meru who have maintained close ties with the Kenya Kwanza administration, urging voters to reject them at the ballot.

He announced what he termed “Operation Fagia”, a political campaign aimed at removing leaders he accuses of abandoning the interests of their constituents in favour of supporting the current administration.

The tour comes as political leaders intensify early positioning ahead of the August 2027 General Election, with the Mount Kenya vote expected to be one of the major battlegrounds.

Gachagua, who served as Ruto's deputy following the 2022 election, has been working to rebuild his political base in the region while challenging leaders who have remained allied to the President.

Meru is particularly significant in that contest, given its substantial voter population and its place within the wider Mount Kenya political bloc.

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