Gachagua To Ruto "We Elected You As Kipchirchir, Not Kamau" How Fast Have We Become Tribal?
Politics Updated: 18 April 2026 13:51 EAT
Former Deputy President and the then DCP and opposition leader Rigathi Gachagua and his team staged a campaign rally at Githurai 45 roundabout
Opposition leader Rigathi Gachagua delivered one of his most confrontational public addresses yet during his April 17 tour of Ruiru and Githurai 45, sharply escalating his rhetoric against President William Ruto in remarks that underscored deepening political tensions.
Speaking before crowds in Githurai 45, Gachagua recounted a direct personal confrontation with the Head of State, stating: “I looked him in the eyes while he was sitting there and I told him, ‘You, Kasongo, you are a thief and you are a liar.’”
The use of the nickname “Kasongo” — widely understood in local political discourse to refer to President Ruto — featured prominently throughout the address, as Gachagua intensified his criticism with further allegations, declaring: “You are a murderer, and I told Kasongo: I have given you a warning, stop insulting the Kikuyu.”
He accused the president of divisive rhetoric across communities, saying: “Stop insulting us. When you go to the Luos you say we are just a tribe. I told Kasongo when we elected you you weren't a Kikuyu…”
Gachagua also questioned the president’s identity and political evolution, telling the crowd: “Here in Githurai people are called Karanja, here they are called Kamau; you, you used to be called William Kipchirchir Arap Ruto. We have you votes knowing you are not a Kikuyu”
The opposition figure signalled defiance regardless of political consequences, asserting: “Whether Kasongo goes or stays, let him go,” before invoking his son’s stance as symbolic of generational resistance: “My son is called Methu; he looked him in the eyes and told Kasongo, ‘I am Methu.’”
A central theme of the speech revolved around the distinction between respect and fear, with Gachagua telling residents: “I respect you, but I am not afraid of you. I am not afraid of you here at 45.”
He extended the sentiment to the wider community, adding: “I know you all respect Kasongo, but we at 45 respect Kasongo but we are not afraid of him.”
Reinforcing his message to the Mt Kenya political base, he declared: “45, you respect Kasongo. Today, while I am here at the Mountain, I have told Kasongo to respect us too”
The address also included accusations of state-backed intimidation, with Gachagua alleging: “You are used to sending thugs to beat me; you are used to sending police to beat me. I have told Kasongo—”
He warned of potential retaliation should such actions continue, stating: “Like a mountain, we have decided. If you start a fight again and disrupt his meetings, even yours will be disrupted…”
Gachagua went further, suggesting political exclusion if tensions persist: “You will not speak here at the Mountain. We will only agree to talk if we have reached an agreement; there is this Kimani Ichungwa the traitor of the community.”
The speech also drew in local political figures and disputes, with Gachagua telling the crowd: “This Kimani has insulted the people of Githurai; he has insulted the people of Githurai, isn’t that so?”
He issued direct challenges to unnamed opponents, declaring: “You, Kimani, you Kimng'etich—if you are a man, come here and face these people.”
At one point, the rally took on a charged atmosphere as he remarked: “Let’s have a ‘Harambee’ because it has become night, and we don’t want Kasongo to beat us in the dark.”
Gachagua praised local allies, telling supporters: “Let my son Gitungati be greeted—a brave young man, the Senator of Kiambu,” before leading chants of support for area leadership.
He specifically recognised Karungo wa Thang'wa, declaring: “Honorable Karungo wa Thang’wa of Githurai, hoyee hoyee!” as the crowd responded enthusiastically.
Turning back to accusations of political betrayal, he criticised remarks allegedly made against residents, saying: “I wanted to say, I am telling that Kimani Ichung'wa who called the people of Githurai ‘thugs.’”
He challenged the narrative directly, asking: “Now I am asking: we are here in Githurai, so who is beating us?”
The opposition leader rejected claims linking locals to violence, adding: “We are here in Githurai. Where did you say those thugs were? You, stop insulting the people of Githurai.”
He framed the dispute as part of a broader struggle over political representation, stating: “If you, Kemani Shongwa, and you, Kasongo, refuse to listen to the leaders we love, then who are we supposed to listen to?”
On security matters, Gachagua accused authorities of repeated interference with his events, saying: “Everywhere I go, you send thugs.”
He cited a recent incident, claiming: “The other day I was in Kikuyu… you sent police to beat us,” describing it as part of a pattern of suppression.
Drawing comparisons with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Gachagua argued: “When you and President Uhuru Kenyatta had a fallout, there was never a day he used thugs against you.”
He added: “You disagreed with Uhuru Kenyatta, but there was never a day he used the police to teargas you… or shoot you with bullets.”
Concluding his remarks, Gachagua posed a pointed question to the administration: “Why do you, Kasongo, send police to beat a child of the home,” framing his critique as both personal and representative of wider grievances in the Mt Kenya region.
The remarks highlight an intensifying political standoff, with Gachagua’s rhetoric signalling a hardening opposition stance as the country edges closer to the 2027 general election cycle.
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FELIX MAKONA
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