Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has drawn a line in the red soil of Mt. Kenya, vowing to act as the "shield" for former President Uhuru Kenyatta against what he terms a coordinated campaign of intimidation by President William Ruto’s administration. Speaking at the Democracy for Citizens Party headquarters, Gachagua claimed that state operatives are weaponizing retirement benefits to silence the retired Head of State.

This declaration marks a dramatic pivot in Gachagua’s political trajectory. Once a fierce critic of Kenyatta, he has now positioned himself as the guardian of the region’s "son," signaling a consolidation of Mt. Kenya’s political elite against the current government. Gachagua alleges that politicians from Western and North Eastern Kenya have been "dispatched" by the state to harass Kenyatta, using the threat of withdrawing his pension and allowances as leverage to force his exit from the political stage.

Weaponizing the Pension

"Uhuru Kenyatta is not a poor man," Gachagua thundered, dismissing the financial threats as petty and ineffective. He argued that the former President’s silence cannot be bought or coerced, asserting that Kenyatta’s "constitutional freedom" to engage in politics remains intact regardless of his retired status. The allegations suggest a deep insecurity within the current administration regarding Kenyatta’s lingering influence.

Gachagua went further, accusing President Ruto of "panic and desperation." He claimed the Head of State is haunted by the fear of losing the Mt. Kenya voting bloc—the very engine that powered his 2022 victory. "Ruto is in shock... he went to cry to him in Ichaweri," Gachagua claimed, referring to alleged secret overtures Ruto made to Kenyatta to help divide the region’s vote. The narrative Gachagua is crafting is clear: the government is fracturing, and it is lashing out at its predecessor to deflect from its own governance failures.

• The Proxy War: Gachagua challenged President Ruto to stop "sending leaders to abuse Uhuru" and instead face the former President directly if he is "man enough."
• Mt. Kenya Unity: By defending Kenyatta, Gachagua is effectively suing for peace with the Kenyatta family’s vast network, aiming to unify the fractured mountain region under a single opposition banner.
• The "One-Term" Threat: Gachagua explicitly framed Ruto’s presidency as a "one-term thing," predicting that the betrayal of the region’s economic interests would lead to a decisive voter revolt in 2027.

A Calculated Rapprochement

This defense of Uhuru is not merely altruistic; it is a calculated survival strategy. By aligning himself with the Kenyatta dynasty, Gachagua seeks to inherit the mantle of the region’s kingpin—a title that has remained elusive since his own impeachment. The "protection" he offers is symbolic of a broader political realignment that could see former foes uniting to dismantle the current administration’s stronghold in Central Kenya.

"I will not allow Uhuru Kenyatta to be intimidated," Gachagua concluded, cementing his new role. For the residents of the mountain, the message is unambiguous: the region is closing ranks, and the battle for 2027 has officially begun, with the former President’s dignity serving as the rallying cry.