Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programs Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku sharply criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his recent remarks questioning the credibility of Mt Kenya leaders.
Speaking in Mbeere North during an education empowerment programme, Ruku, who engaged residents at Cieria, Kìrie, Kabùbua, and Kanyuambora, described Gachagua’s comments as “uncalled for and unbecoming” of someone who once held the country’s second-highest office.
He said it was wrong and divisive for the former Deputy President to allege that Mt Kenya leaders lacked credibility, arguing that such statements were designed to create disunity within the region.
“There is no single leader in Mt Kenya who lacks credibility. All our leaders have merit, substance, and serve their people diligently. Those are not words expected from someone who claims to represent the interests of the mountain,” Ruku stated.
He accused Gachagua of hypocrisy, saying the former DP often associates publicly with the same leaders he now criticises.
“Let him not pretend to be the moral compass of the mountain. He walks and dines with leaders whose credibility is questionable, yet he dares to lecture others,” Ruku said.
Ruku emphasised that Mt Kenya already has an established leadership structure under Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki, whom he praised as a respected international law scholar and a man of integrity.
“Prof. Kindiki is an accomplished leader, well-educated, globally recognised, and highly respected. He is the one leading Mt Kenya leaders. The former Deputy President has no moral authority to question the credibility and substance of leaders who have worked tirelessly for their people,” he asserted.
The Cabinet Secretary urged Gachagua to desist from what he termed “divisive politics” that could derail the region’s unity and development agenda.
“The people of Mt Kenya will not entertain divisive politics anymore. We are focused on unity, development, and progress, not empty rhetoric meant to divide us,” he said.
Ruku, who took the campaign trail to Mumìnjì and Evurore wards, held a major rally at Kanyuambora Stadium, just a few metres from the home of former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti.
The rally also took place in the backyard of former Attorney General and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, both of whom are backing the United Opposition candidate in the upcoming by-election.
During the event, residents of Kanyuambora vowed to reject the United Opposition candidate at the ballot on November 27, citing remarks by the former AG Muturi advocating for the scrapping of NG-CDF bursaries, The crowd, chanting in unison, declared they would support the government-backed candidate Leonard Wamuthende instead.
Ruku expressed confidence that the government would perform strongly in the upcoming by-elections across Mt Kenya, noting that unity and development remain the cornerstone of their political strategy.
“The people of Mbeere North are intelligent and development-oriented. They know who stands with them, and they will speak loudly through the ballot. Out of their love for President William Ruto and his government, they are backing the UDA candidate,” he concluded.
