Gachagua accuses Mt. Kenya leaders of betrayal, claims region sidelined by Ruto

Gachagua argued that leaders from the region have remained silent while insults are hurled at opposition figures from their own backyard. He further claimed that the Mt. Kenya region has been sidelined by President Ruto’s administration.

After weeks of silence, Gachagua made a public return in Murang’a County, attending the burial of five family members who died in a tragic road accident.

He used the occasion to criticize Mt. Kenya leaders allied to President Ruto, accusing them of turning their backs on their people.

“Mimi huzuni yangu ni wale watu wanatoka Mlimani, wakitembea na Githinji, akitukosea sisi, kama jamii na kutukosea heshima. Na nyinyi wale mmetoka hapa mlichaguliwa, mnapigia Githinji makofi,” said Gachagua.

He also accused President Ruto of sending his allies to verbally attack Mt. Kenya leaders who oppose his leadership, including former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Sasa umefika mahali, unatuma ule mtu wako wa standard three anatukana sisi. Anatukana jamii yetu, akisema sisi ni roho chafu. Alikuwa pale akasema Uhuru Kenyatta ni roho chafu, akasema Gachagua ni roho chafu, akasema Martha Karua ni roho chafu,” he said.

In Kilifi County, People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua continued her criticism of Tanzania’s elections and leadership, claiming that dictatorship is taking root in several East African countries, with leaders clinging to power beyond their terms.

“East African leaders wanakatalia kiti. Wanazeekea wengine hawawezi hata tembea. Five years is enough to show what you have done for the people. So, one term is real, hata mimi mkinipa, ni one term,” said Karua.

She, however, cautioned against losing faith in women’s leadership, arguing that the failures of one leader should not define all women leaders. Karua took aim at Tanzania’s President-elect Samia Suluhu, claiming her actions were casting women leaders in a negative light.

“One woman cannot define other women. Hitler and Idi Amin were men, even ours is a man, so don’t judge women’s leadership with just one bad woman,” said Karua.

Her remarks come even as Tanzania’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) handed the presidential certificate to President-elect Samia Suluhu, following elections marred by transparency concerns.