The battle lines are drawn, and the prize is the soul of Mt. Kenya. In a high-stakes political chess game, Rigathi Gachagua is deploying a "scorched earth" strategy to effectively lock President William Ruto out of the vote-rich region ahead of 2027.

Traversing Nyeri, Murang’a, and Kirinyaga with the zeal of a revivalist preacher, Gachagua is selling a singular, potent message: "One Term." By positioning himself as the undisputed regional kingpin and the victim of betrayal, he is erecting a psychological fence around the Mountain that the President may find impossible to breach.

The "One Term" Crusade

Gachagua’s strategy relies on weaponizing economic grievances. He argues that the region has been shortchanged on coffee reforms, tea bonuses, and infrastructure, all while being overtaxed. His rallies are becoming referendums on the Kenya Kwanza administration.

• Consolidating the Base: By framing the recent police harassment as an attack on the community, Gachagua is rallying the GEMA base to a defensive posture.
• The Kingpin Question: With Uhuru Kenyatta retired, Gachagua is aggressively filling the vacuum, daring any local MP to host the President without his blessing.
• The Ruto Dilemma: The President’s planned tour of Nyeri now faces a hostile reception. Local organizers are reportedly struggling to guarantee crowds without Gachagua’s machinery.

A High-Stakes Gamble

Political analysts warn that Gachagua is playing a dangerous game. By isolating the region, he risks cutting it off from development. But for the "Villager," as he calls himself, power is local.

"The Mountain does not forget," he told a crowd in Karatina. If he succeeds, he will hold the keys to the presidency in 2027—and he plans to charge a high price for entry.