Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has sharply criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for recent remarks questioning the credibility of leaders from the Mt Kenya region, labelling the comments as divisive and disrespectful. Speaking on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in Mbeere North, Embu County, during an education empowerment tour, Mr. Ruku defended the region's leadership and affirmed Deputy President Kithure Kindiki's position as its foremost political figure.

“There is no single leader in Mt Kenya who lacks credibility. All our leaders have merit, substance, and serve their people diligently,” CS Ruku stated, according to reports from Capital FM and Citizen Digital published on November 5, 2025. He described Mr. Gachagua's comments as “uncalled for and unbecoming” for a leader of his stature.

The public rebuke underscores the escalating political realignments in the Mt Kenya region, a process that has intensified since Mr. Gachagua's impeachment in October 2024. Mr. Gachagua has since adopted a more oppositional stance, accusing leaders aligned with the current administration of betraying the community's interests and claiming the region has been sidelined. On November 1, 2025, he publicly condemned Mt Kenya leaders allied with the President, arguing they remained silent while insults were directed at opposition figures from their own backyard.

Kindiki Endorsed as Regional Leader

In his address, CS Ruku positioned Deputy President Kindiki as the undisputed leader of the region. “Prof. Kindiki is an accomplished leader, well-educated, globally recognised, and highly respected. He is the one leading Mt Kenya leaders,” Ruku asserted. This endorsement is significant, reflecting a broader effort by government-aligned figures to consolidate support around Prof. Kindiki, who assumed the deputy presidency on November 1, 2024. Analysts note that Prof. Kindiki's tenure has been marked by a quieter, more strategic approach compared to his predecessor, a style some see as a stabilising force within the executive.

CS Ruku, who previously served as the Member of Parliament for Mbeere North before his cabinet appointment in April 2025, accused the former Deputy President of hypocrisy. “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 added.

Gachagua's Campaign for Regional Supremacy

Mr. Gachagua's recent activities suggest a concerted effort to rally the region behind him ahead of the 2027 general election. After his ousting, he launched the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) and has been vocal about the need for Mt Kenya to have its own political vehicle to protect its interests. He has warned against blind loyalty to leaders from other regions and has vowed to expose those he deems traitors to the community. On November 2, 2025, reports emerged of him urging Mt Kenya voters to install him as their kingpin, dismissing any possibility of reconciliation with the current administration.

His comments have drawn fire from other leaders within the ruling coalition. National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah and other Kenya Kwanza figures on November 2, 2025, accused Mr. Gachagua of bitterness and disrespect towards the region's elected representatives.

Implications for Kenyan Politics

The intensifying war of words signals a significant political battle for control of the Mt Kenya voting bloc, which has historically voted as a cohesive unit. The region's unity was a cornerstone of the ruling party's victory in the 2022 elections, where it secured approximately 87% of the vote. The current divisions, sparked by Mr. Gachagua's impeachment and subsequent political manoeuvres, could fragment this support base, creating a more unpredictable political landscape leading up to 2027.

CS Ruku's tour, which included stops in Cieria, Kìrie, Kabùbua, and Kanyuambora, also touched on local by-election politics, with the CS expressing confidence that the ruling UDA party's candidate would prevail in the upcoming Mbeere North contest on November 27. He urged residents to focus on the government's development agenda and reject what he termed as divisive rhetoric.