Gachagua's 'Kingpin' Ambitions Face Flak in Mt. Kenya, Unifying Mission Stumbles

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's attempts to solidify his grip on Mt. Kenya politics have hit a snag, with his "kingpin" aspirations facing resistance from within the region itself. Despite pledging to unite the region behind President Ruto's agenda, Gachagua's moves have instead exacerbated existing fissures.

The Deputy President's ambition was laid bare during a recent meeting with Mt. Kenya leaders in Nyeri, where he declared, "I will be in charge of the Mt. Kenya region, and I will ensure we give President Ruto a 60% share of the vote in 2027." This pronouncement, however, did not sit well with many local leaders.

"Who made Gachagua the kingpin?" quipped Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, echoing the sentiments of others who bristled at the assertion of unilateral leadership. "We must respect the democratic process and allow the people to choose their leaders," she added.

The friction is further fueled by Gachagua's ongoing rivalry with Public Service CS Moses Kuria, another Mt. Kenya heavyweight with his own political ambitions. The two have traded barbs publicly, highlighting the lack of harmony within the Kenya Kwanza camp.

Adding to the discord is Gachagua's strained relationship with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose influence in the region remains significant. Gachagua's efforts to mend fences with his former patron have yet to bear fruit, leaving a crucial power vacuum in the wake of Kenyatta's exit.

These internal divisions threaten to undermine Gachagua's stated goal of consolidating Mt. Kenya support for President Ruto. The Deputy President faces the delicate task of navigating competing interests and egos while delivering on development promises that could solidify his position.

Meanwhile, as Gachagua grapples with internal challenges, opposition figures like Raila Odinga are already making inroads in the region. Odinga's recent visit to Nyeri, where he was warmly received by a section of the crowd, served as a reminder that Mt. Kenya's political landscape remains fluid and far from a foregone conclusion.

With the 2027 elections on the horizon, Gachagua's bid to control Mt. Kenya will be closely watched. Can he bridge the internal divides and unify the region behind President Ruto's agenda? Or will Mt. Kenya's political terrain remain fragmented, offering fertile ground for opposition players to exploit? Only time will tell.

Gachagua slams Chinese presence in Kenya, demands more jobs for locals

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has criticized the influx of Chinese nationals in Kenya, accusing them of taking over jobs and businesses that should belong to Kenyans. He also called for the government to reserve tenders worth up to Sh1 billion for local contractors and ensure that foreign firms partner with Kenyan companies for at least 30% of the value of mega projects.

Speaking at a Kenya Kwanza MPs conference at Windsor Golf Hotel on Friday, Gachagua said that the current situation where Chinese are involved in small-scale activities such as roasting maize and repairing punctures is unacceptable and unfair to local entrepreneurs. He said that the government is pushing for a law change to protect Kenyan businesses from foreign competition in procurement and tendering.

“We have identified affordable housing as a key function to make sure that we deal with the rural-urban migration and at the same time create employment for our young people,” he said. “We are going to borrow Sh150 billion from China to complete stalled projects. The president will soon be travelling to China to negotiate that loan and seek credit service for earlier loans.”

He added that the president will also seek to review the terms of the loans borrowed by previous regimes, which have contributed to the country's ballooning debt. According to the latest report by the Controller of Budget, Kenya's debt crossed the Sh10 trillion mark in June 2023, surpassing the Treasury's projection for June 2024.

Gachagua said that he had sponsored a bill in 2018 that proposed to amend the Procurement Act to give preference to local contractors and investors, but it was defeated in Parliament by allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga. He urged the National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa to revive the bill and push it through alongside other legislative proposals that support the Kenya Kwanza plan.

“These Chinese are so many. They are everywhere. They are even in our villages. They are doing everything. We must protect our people from this invasion,” he said, echoing the sentiments of many Kenyans who have expressed concern over the growing presence and influence of China in the country.

However, his remarks have drawn mixed reactions from the public, with some accusing him of being hypocritical and insensitive, while others applauding him for speaking out on behalf of Kenyans. Some have also questioned the wisdom of borrowing more money from China, which is already Kenya's largest creditor, while others have expressed doubt over the feasibility and sustainability of the Kenya Kwanza plan.