In the last few months, a peculiar political conversation has taken hold across Kenya. Kenyans are increasingly saying something that would have seemed unthinkable just a year ago:
“We would rather give President William Ruto a second term—or even vote for retired Chief Justice David Maraga—than back Rigathi Gachagua for president.”
At first glance, this might sound like political theatre. But it reflects something deeper: a national fatigue with tribal politics and a growing rejection of leaders who thrive on division.
A Nation Tired of Ethnic Tokenism
Rigathi Gachagua has positioned himself as Mt. Kenya’s chief defender, but his brand of politics is dangerously narrow. His speeches often recycle the same tired mantra: that the Kikuyu community must rally behind him or risk political extinction.
But Kenya is not a village. It is a nation of 50 million people, spanning 47 counties, dozens of ethnic groups, and an increasingly savvy youth population that doesn’t see the world through tribal lenses. Gachagua’s obsession with “protecting the mountain” is starting to feel not just outdated, but outright toxic.
“You cannot become president of this country by rotating around one mountain.”
— Moses Wetang’ula, Speaker of the National Assembly
That wasn’t just a jab—it was a reality check.
Even Ruto Looks Better by Comparison
Ironically, some Kenyans are now warming back up to President Ruto—not because they believe he has delivered fully, but because his presidency at least pretends to be national. He talks to the coastal regions, visits Luo Nyanza, reaches out to the Rift Valley.
Gachagua, by contrast, seems to be campaigning exclusively in Nyeri, Murang’a, and Kiambu.
Kenya Needs a National Conversation
If 2027 becomes a contest between Rigathi Gachagua’s tribal gospel and whoever else emerges on the national stage, Kenya risks tearing at the seams. We cannot afford to go back to the politics of “our people vs their people.”
Kenyans want leaders who understand that poverty, unemployment, and insecurity don’t know tribe. They want leaders who can build bridges—not walls—between communities.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t just about Rigathi Gachagua. It’s about the kind of Kenya we want to build. Are we stuck in the old ethnic trenches, or are we ready to chart a new, inclusive path?
The message from the ground is becoming clearer by the day:
”Kenyans are tired of tribal chiefs masquerading as national leaders. We deserve better.”
